International Federation of Journalists Calls on Gambian Authorities to Drop Charges Against Managing Editor of the ‘Today’ Newspaper

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Friday called on the Gambian authorities to drop charges against Abdoul Hamid Adiamoh, managing editor of the ‘Today’ newspaper, who has been accused of “seditious intention” following the publication of an article about child labor.

“Charging a journalist with sedition for investigating a genuine social problem is the act of a government that is contemptuous of journalists’ rights,” said Gabriel Baglo, the Director of the IFJ Africa office. “The government must drop the charges against Adiamoh and cease its harassment of independent journalism.”

According to a pres release from IFJ, Adiamoh, a Nigerian national, was arraigned Thursday by a magistrate in the capital Banjul and charged with “seditious intention”. The charge stems from a story his newspaper published last month about children who miss school to look for scrap metals that they later sell.

According to the Gambia Press Union (GPU) Adiamoh was granted bail in the sum of 200,000 Dalasi (6,000 Euros). The case is due to resume on 10 September.

The editor, who was already arrested and interrogated by the police in July, was detained overnight on 11 August over the same story.

Source African Press Agency

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