The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the

authorities in The Gambia to immediately release journalist Baboucarr Ceesay,

who was arrested on Friday 8 March 2013 by officers from the National

Intelligence Agency (NIA).

According to Gambia Press Union (GPU), an IFJ affiliate, journalist

Babucarr Ceesay, 1st Vice- President of the Union was arrested by the NIA at

his house around 2 pm. No reason was given for his arrest.

 “We call on authorities in The

Gambia to release our colleague immediately and unconditionally. The Gambia

must stop these never ending intimidations and harassments of journalists which

have portrayed a very negative image for the country throughout the whole world,”

said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa Director.  

 Baboucar Ceesay had been initially arrested and released in

September 2012 with another colleague, Aboubacarr SaidyKhan, in relation to a

letter that was written to the Inspector General of police requesting for a

permit to demonstrate over the killing of nine death row inmates.  The IFJ

is deeply concerned that since September, Ceesay has been facing consistent

harassment from the security agents and was nearly abducted recently by two men

believed to be members of the security agents.

IFJ believes that the journalist has been targeted for long time without

any justification and calls on the Government of The Gambia to stop these

unwarranted acts of intimidation.

 “Journalists in The Gambia must

be allowed to exercise their right to freedom of expression and of the press as

guaranteed by the country’s constitution and other international instruments

that the country has signed and ratified, including the Africa Charter on Human

and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political

rights”, added Baglo.

For more information, please contact IFJ on +221- 33

867 95 87

The IFJ represents more than 600.000

journalists in 134 countries