‘Amnesty fears Baba Leigh’s continued detention’

Carte des pays africains selon le statut de la peine de mort (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Death penalty violates fundamental human rights

Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie (Photo credit: ACHPR)

36 African countries maintain it in their laws

Capital punishment constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights, the Special Rapportuer on Death Penalty in Africa, Commissioner Kayitesi Zainabo Sylvie said on Saturday.

“The right to life under Article 4 of the African Charter and the right not to be subjected to any form of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment under Article 5 undoubtedly discourage capital punishment,” she stressed.

Jammeh Call Prisoners Execution ‘Necessary Action’

President Jammeh had earlier pledged to have all death row inmates executed by mid-September, before a moratorium was announced. Photo | BBC |

For the records – The North Bank Evening Standard

Gambia Gov’t recognises Libya Rebels 

Friday/April 22, 2011/Media Statement/Banjul/The Gambia/ - The Government of the Republic of The Gambia hereby informs the general public of its recognition in full, of the Transitional National Council of Libya as the only legitimate body that represents the interest and affairs of the people of Libya.

Hannah Foster harps on the need to ‘abolish’ death penalty

Madam Hannah Foster

The Executive Director of the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Madam Hannah Foster has stressed that there is a need to abolish the death penalty in The Gambia.

This is because it is a fact that the right to life is sacred and since we do not give life it is agreed that we cannot take away what we do not give, she said.

Madam Foster was speaking to our news editor on April 26, 2011 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, Senegambia, in reaction to the recent substitution of a “death sentence” for drugs to a “life sentence” by the National Assembly.

“I think alternative ways of punishment should be put in place. The death penalty is a severe punishment and though it is supposed to serve as a deterrent, it is not because it does not stop people from committing the same crime. So we should look at other alternatives,” she said.