Statement / ARTICLE 19 / 01 Aug 2012
These
actions against journalists reporting on court cases prevented them from
informing the public about the work of the judiciary.
ARTICLE 19 calls
on the Gambian authorities to provide remedies for the violations of the
journalists’ rights to liberty and freedom of expression and to ensure
that the media is free to report legal proceedings in the public
interest.
In June and July 2012 three Gambian journalists were arrested and investigated for alleged contempt of court.
The right to liberty, as guaranteed by Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by The Gambia in 1979, and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human, and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) protects individuals against arbitrary arrest and detention. According to international law, individuals can only be arrested on reasonable suspicion of committing an offence, where reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of an offence or to prevent fleeing after the commission of an offence. Article 10 of the ICCPR and Article 5 of the ACHPR protect the right of a detained person to be treated with humanity and dignity. Arbitrary detentions often lead to inhuman and degrading treatment of detained persons or to coerced confessions.
In the cases of Adiamoh and Njie, the arrest orders were arbitrary. ARTICLE 19 considers that the purpose of the arrests and subsequent detentions was not to pursue due criminal process but to intimidate and threaten them. Both journalists were detained for several days before they were eventually brought before court when no criminal charges were pursued against them and the alleged ‘investigations’ terminated. Article 9(5) of the ICCPR provides that anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.
The right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the ICCPR and Article 9 of the ACHPR, is critical to an effective democracy. Legitimate public scrutiny of the functioning of the judiciary is an important safeguard for the administration of justice, the right to a fair trial and respect for the presumption of innocence, as protected by Article 14 of the ICCPR and Article 7 of the ACHPR.
The role of the press as a public watchdog in a transparent democracy is critical as a public service to provide individuals and society with the information required to allow them to develop opinions. Therefore, journalistic freedom of expression should be afforded the broadest scope of protection. ARTICLE 19 also recalls that the right to freedom of expression protects not only expressions and ideas that are favourably received but also those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any section of society.
International law requires that any restriction to the right to freedom of expression is (a) provided by law, (b) proven as necessary and legitimate to protect the rights or reputations of others, national security or public order, public health or morals and (c) is the least restrictive and most proportionate means to achieve the purported aim, Moreover, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression highlights that laws restricting freedom of expression must not be applied in an arbitrary manner.
The investigations of the journalists for alleged contempt of court did not fulfil a pressing social need: indeed, in the case of Adiamoh and Nije, the investigations were terminated after their arrest and detention and no criminal charges were pursued. ARTICLE 19 considers that the arrests had the sole purpose and intent of interrupting the journalists’ ability to report on matters which the Judge found controversial or unpalatable.
Furthermore, the investigations – even if legitimate - did not require the arrest or detention of the journalists. The investigations could have been undertaken without interfering with the day-to-day ability of the journalists to report on matters of public interest. These short term detentions have a chilling effect on freedom of expression, heighten the climate of intimidation and inhibit journalists from reporting on legitimate matters of public interest related to the functioning of the judiciary and national courts.
Finally, ARTICLE 19 reaffirms that disproportionate financial sanctions against journalists can paralyze journalistic investigation and further contribute to an atmosphere of intimidation. The fine of $3,215 US imposed on Adiamoh is disproportionate in view of the income of the journalist and his apology published before the trial. This level of fine reinforces the chilling effect on media freedom.
ARTICLE 19 calls on the authorities in The Gambia:
NOTES TO EDITORS
- In June 2012, Abdulhamid Adiamoh, editor and owner of Today newspaper, was arrested for contempt of court and tried a week later for an article about an ongoing criminal case in which he analysed the cross-examination of a key witness. He was found guilty of discrediting the court and the defence counsel and sentenced to pay a fine of 100,000 Dalasi ($3,215 US). The court disregarded Adiomoh’s defence that his article was not intended to prejudice the court proceedings or be disrespectful to the authority of the court. The court also failed to take into account the journalist’s letter of apology published days before the trial.
- On 22 June 2012, Lamin Njie, a deputy editor of Daily News newspaper, was arrested in connection with the publication of an article about the court proceedings of a case concerning economic crimes. The allegation of contempt of court was made by the presiding Judge, who claimed that Njie incorrectly reported that he had denied bail to the defendants. At the first court hearing on 25 June 2012 the court decided to discontinue the investigation. It noted that Nijie’s three-day detention prior to trial served its purpose of giving a clear warning to him and all other journalists who reported on court proceedings.
- On 10 July 2012, Sidiq Asemota, senior legal correspondent with the Daily Observer newspaper, was arrested for contempt of court in connection with a article he wrote in which he remarked that the court had given a lenient sentence to two defendants in an economic crime case. The Judge considered that this remark damaged the reputation of the court. Asemota was brought before the court the next day and was released without being charged after he apologised to the court. At the end of the hearing the Judge warned the managing director of the newspaper that he was unhappy that the newspaper considered the arrest of the journalist to be “shocking” and indicated that the court is a sacrosanct institution.
The right to liberty, as guaranteed by Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by The Gambia in 1979, and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human, and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) protects individuals against arbitrary arrest and detention. According to international law, individuals can only be arrested on reasonable suspicion of committing an offence, where reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of an offence or to prevent fleeing after the commission of an offence. Article 10 of the ICCPR and Article 5 of the ACHPR protect the right of a detained person to be treated with humanity and dignity. Arbitrary detentions often lead to inhuman and degrading treatment of detained persons or to coerced confessions.
In the cases of Adiamoh and Njie, the arrest orders were arbitrary. ARTICLE 19 considers that the purpose of the arrests and subsequent detentions was not to pursue due criminal process but to intimidate and threaten them. Both journalists were detained for several days before they were eventually brought before court when no criminal charges were pursued against them and the alleged ‘investigations’ terminated. Article 9(5) of the ICCPR provides that anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.
The right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the ICCPR and Article 9 of the ACHPR, is critical to an effective democracy. Legitimate public scrutiny of the functioning of the judiciary is an important safeguard for the administration of justice, the right to a fair trial and respect for the presumption of innocence, as protected by Article 14 of the ICCPR and Article 7 of the ACHPR.
The role of the press as a public watchdog in a transparent democracy is critical as a public service to provide individuals and society with the information required to allow them to develop opinions. Therefore, journalistic freedom of expression should be afforded the broadest scope of protection. ARTICLE 19 also recalls that the right to freedom of expression protects not only expressions and ideas that are favourably received but also those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any section of society.
International law requires that any restriction to the right to freedom of expression is (a) provided by law, (b) proven as necessary and legitimate to protect the rights or reputations of others, national security or public order, public health or morals and (c) is the least restrictive and most proportionate means to achieve the purported aim, Moreover, the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression highlights that laws restricting freedom of expression must not be applied in an arbitrary manner.
The investigations of the journalists for alleged contempt of court did not fulfil a pressing social need: indeed, in the case of Adiamoh and Nije, the investigations were terminated after their arrest and detention and no criminal charges were pursued. ARTICLE 19 considers that the arrests had the sole purpose and intent of interrupting the journalists’ ability to report on matters which the Judge found controversial or unpalatable.
Furthermore, the investigations – even if legitimate - did not require the arrest or detention of the journalists. The investigations could have been undertaken without interfering with the day-to-day ability of the journalists to report on matters of public interest. These short term detentions have a chilling effect on freedom of expression, heighten the climate of intimidation and inhibit journalists from reporting on legitimate matters of public interest related to the functioning of the judiciary and national courts.
Finally, ARTICLE 19 reaffirms that disproportionate financial sanctions against journalists can paralyze journalistic investigation and further contribute to an atmosphere of intimidation. The fine of $3,215 US imposed on Adiamoh is disproportionate in view of the income of the journalist and his apology published before the trial. This level of fine reinforces the chilling effect on media freedom.
ARTICLE 19 calls on the authorities in The Gambia:
- To compensate Njie, Asemota, and Adiamoh for their arbitrary arrests and detention and the violations of their right to freedom of expression;
- To quash the conviction and sentence of Adiamoh;
- To stop the intimidation of journalists through arbitrary arrests, detention and investigations;
- To review the national legal framework protecting freedom of expression to ensure compliance with The Gambia’s international obligations.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- For more information contact: Fatou Jagne Senghore, ARTICLE 19 Representative for West Africa, at fatouj@article.19.org or call +221338690322/ +221773335845 or Bruno Menzan, ARTICLE 19 West Africa Programme Assistant for Gambia, at bruno@article19.org.
- For more information on ARTICLE 19’s position on freedom of expression and contempt of court or on our work on The Gambia, visit our website. www.article19.org.
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