Gambia: ECOWAS Court to fix date for judgment of journalists’s torture

Today, July 8, 2010, the ECOWAS Community Court will continue with the hearing of a case of torture brought against the Gambian authorities by a victim, Musa Saidykhan, a Gambian journalist now in exile.

Saidykhan, a former editor-in-chief of the banned Banjul-based The Independent newspaper was among several victims who were illegally detained and suffered all manner of cruelty at the hands of the Gambian security agents in the aftermath of an alleged coup attempt in March 2006.

At the last hearing on June 3, Saidykhan painted a gory picture of how he was tortured by members of President Yahya Jammeh’s security guard and he became unconscious for about thirty minutes. He was crossed examined together with a Senegalese medical doctor who treated him after he fled the Gambia.

The court is expected to adopt written addressees filed by both parties before fixing a date to deliver its verdict.

 Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) initiated the action on Saidykhan’s behalf in order to seek justice for him.

 Issued by MFWA on July 7, 2010

The MFWA is a regional independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Accra. It was founded in 1997 to defend and promote the rights and freedom of the media and all forms of expression.

For more information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof) Executive Director MFWA Accra Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70 Fax: 233-302-22 10 84 Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.ghThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , alerts@mediafound.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.mediafound.org

-July 8, 2010 by MFWA

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Source: www.mediafound.org/index.php (accessed on 08.07.10)