Gambian court detains seven journalists again
Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:19am EDT
BANJUL, July 3
(Reuters) - Gambia's High Court jailed seven journalists who were out
on bail after being charged with sedition and has brought new charges
against them, legal sources said on Friday.
The arrests have been condemned by global press freedom groups and have
increased the concerns of Western donors about the West African
country. The journalists were initially arrested after the Gambia Press
Union issued a statement last month that was critical of the
government's treatment of the media, especially after the unexplained
death of veteran reporter Deyda Hydara in 2004.
Having been
freed on bail last week, the group of journalists was due to face the
charges on July 7. But they were summoned to Banjul's High Court on
Friday, which has remanded them in Mile Two prison until Wednesday,
lawyers said.
"It came as a complete surprise to all of us. No legal reason was given," a legal source told Reuters, asking not to be named.
"More or less the same charges were replicated in the High Court in Banjul, with two additional charges," he added.
A second legal source, who also asked not to be named, confirmed that
the journalists had been sent back to prison and said the additional
charges included criminal defamation.
Those charged include
three members of the press union, two reporters from The Point
newspaper and two journalists working for Foroyaa newspaper. One of the
journalists for The Point, Pap Saine, also reports for Reuters.
Gambia has long been criticised for its treatment of journalists but
watchdog Reporters Without Borders said the current case had taken the
harassment to unprecedented levels.
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