Front Line welcomes the release of six Gambian journalists on 3 September 2009, but remains concerned about the safety of human rights defenders and the integrity of freedom of expression in the Gambia. Emil Touray, Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, secretary general and first vice president respectively of the Gambian Press Union (GPU), Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, managing editor and news editor of The Point newspaper respectively, and Sam Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa newspaper had been convicted on August 6 by a Banjul High court for supposedly defaming President Yahya Jammeh and received a mandatory sentence of two years’ imprisonment and fined 250,000 Dalasis (US$10,000).

On 3 September 2009, in a press statement on the state-owned Gamba Radio and Television Services (GRTS), President Jammeh said the pardon of the journalists was in line with the spirit of the month of Ramadan which encourages Muslims to forgive each other.

The charges stemmed from a 11 June 2009 GPU press statement that criticised President Jammeh for slandering the memory of the late Deyda Hydara, a veteran journalist who was brutally murdered by unknown assailants in 2004. The journalists and three other individuals were subsequently arrested and detained incommunicado before being brought to the Kanifing court and charged with an initial three criminal counts.

Front Line welcomes the release of the six human rights defenders, who it believes were detained solely for their legitimate work in defense of human rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression. Front Line remains concerned for the security of journalists in The Gambia and for the independence of the judiciary in cases involving journalists and human rights defenders.