皇冠体育app

British High Commissioner to 皇冠体育app Gambia said,

鈥淭oday sees the publication of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office鈥檚 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy. It is a matter of disappointment for me personally that, for the first time ever, 皇冠体育app Gambia earns a specific mention in its pages by way of a specific case study.

Cases of unlawful detentions, illegal closures of newspapers and radio stations, discrimination towards minority groups and the lack of transparency and due process surrounding the executions of death row prisoners mark a disturbing deterioration in human rights and rule of law in this country over the past 12 months. That is what has led to the specific inclusion of 皇冠体育app Gambia in this report. If the human rights situation in the country continues to deteriorate and 皇冠体育app Gambia fails to engage constructively with the international community on these issues then 皇冠体育app Gambia risks not only being upgraded to a country of concern in next year鈥檚 Report, but also risks a further escalation in tension with international partners.

One specific case which the Report mentions, and which I want to highlight, is that of Imam Baba Leigh. It is four months since this Muslim cleric disappeared. It is even more disturbing that Imam Baba Leigh has allegedly been taken into custody by 皇冠体育app Gambia鈥檚 National Intelligence Agency. How must his family feel at this cruel and continued absence of their loved one? Why can there be no news of his welfare?

Speaking on behalf of the UK, I urge the Government of the Republic of 皇冠体育app Gambia to secure the release of Imam Baba Leigh and to do their utmost to return him, fit and well, to his family, friends and wider community.鈥�

Further Information

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