Media bodies criticise arrest of seven Gambian journalists
June 24th, 2009 - 11:54 am ICT by IANSNew Delhi, June 24 (IANS) Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) president Hassan Shahriar has expressed “shock and outrage” at the arrest last week of seven Gambian journalists, saying government’s anti-democratic actions “are another stain on the country’s already poor international reputation”.
The seven were charged with conspiracy and sedition for issuing a statement on June 12 criticising the Gambian President Yahya Jammeh for his comments on the unsolved 2004 murder of a prominent editor, Deyda Heydara, in the west African nation.
The Gambian government’s action has also been criticized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
“A political leader who reacts in such a draconian manner to fair journalistic comment and reporting is a political leader with something to hide,” Shahriar said, adding: “We are appalled at the treatment of these journalists and insist they are released immediately.”
- Pakistani journalist's killing outrages CJA - Jun 02, 2011
- Don't turn back clock on journalists rights, Maldives urged - Feb 10, 2012
- Seven Pakistani scribes killed in 2011; 29 in fivc years - Dec 21, 2011
- Gambia-ex army chief sentenced to death - Jul 16, 2010
- Pakistan world's deadliest country for journalists: CPJ - Dec 16, 2010
- Free media main pillar of Pak Govt's policy: Gilani - Jan 17, 2011
- 'Censorship on journalists a threat to democracy' - May 02, 2012
- CPJ urges Zardari to stop growing attacks on Pakistani journalists - Jan 16, 2011
- We want to work with India; Gambian foreign minister - Aug 22, 2010
- CJA condemns journalist Dey's murder - Jun 12, 2011
- Probe sought into Honduran journalist's murder - Dec 30, 2010
- CJA condemns detention of Mumbai journalist - May 28, 2011
- CJA deplores threats to journalists' safety in Swat valley - Apr 06, 2009
- Commonwealth Journalists Association's Australia chief dead - Sep 06, 2010
- Reporters held at Wall St. protests: Rights group - Oct 14, 2011
Tags: african nation, cja, committee to protect journalists, gambian government, gambian president yahya jammeh, hassan, international reputation, journalists association, june 24, media bodies, media foundation, New Delhi, outrage, political leader, president yahya jammeh, reporters without borders, sedition, shahriar, west africa, yahya jammeh