Gambia government has made a commitment at the Supreme Court about three months ago that they will not prosecute anyone for sedition and that they have agreed that sedition is unconstitutional.
A native of Gunjur, who has recorded a WhatsApp audio “insulting” President Adama Barrow and foreign minister Ousainou Darboe, has been charged with seditious intention at the Brikama Magistrate Court on Tuesday.
A member of the former ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party, Omar Touray, has recorded an audio attacking Darboe and Barrow for “failing Gambians”.
Touray said the foreign minister has signed a deportation order for Gambians to be returned from European Union countries, calling him a ‘liar’.
Touray however pleaded not guilty.
Touray was arrested two days ago, a moment which was recorded on a video circulating on social media. Activists criticized the arrest calling the police to release him.
Gambia government has made a commitment at the Supreme Court about three months ago that they will not prosecute anyone for sedition and that they have agreed that sedition is unconstitutional.
However, the Supreme Court ruled last month in a case brought by the Gambia Press Union that sedition protecting the president and the presidency is constitutional and necessary in a democratic society.
The police prosecutor, ASP EA Keita, told the court that Touray has uttered a statement saying the president is a hypocrite and a liar, a statement which is likely to cause contempt and incitement of violence.
Touray was bailed with the sum of 1 million dalasi which could be in form of property within Greater Banjul Area and two sureties
Omar Touray was warned by the court to refrain from WhatsApp.
The case resumes on Thursday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
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