FREETOWN 5^TH APRIL 2024:  HRDN-SL CONDEMNS THE DELIBERATE AND CALCULATED THREATS AND ONLINE ATTACKS ON JOURNALIST AMADU LAMRANA BAH

PRESS RELEASE

FREETOWN 5^TH APRIL 2024:  HRDN-SL CONDEMNS THE DELIBERATE AND CALCULATED THREATS AND ONLINE ATTACKS ON JOURNALIST AMADU LAMRANA BAH

The United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups, and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Declaration defines a human rights defender as anyone working for the promotion and protection of human rights. This broad definition encompasses professional as well as non-professional human rights workers, volunteers, journalists, lawyers, and anyone else carrying out, even on an occasional basis, a human rights activity.

The recent threats and online and offline attacks came at a time when Amadu Lamrana Bah was exercising the “right to criticize government bodies and agencies and to make proposals to improve their functioning” as contained in Article 8 (2) of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The violation of press freedom undermines the core principles of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders – no one who does not enjoy these rights can be expected to fully enjoy the right to civil, economic, social, and cultural, nor participate in the political life of the country.

Based on evidence presented to the network, we are deeply concerned about the insults, intimidation, attacks, and threats against journalist Amadu Lamrana Bah, which are believed to be coming from supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), and government workers and this comes at a time when Sierra Leone government enjoys a non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council.

The network condemns all forms of threats, intimidation, insults, and attacks both online and offline including any attempt to silence press freedom and the legitimate work of human rights defenders.

We call on the government to take all necessary action to investigate these threats and attacks on Amadu Lamrana Bah and hold to account those responsible.

We also call on the government to make use of its membership in the UN Security Council to not only promote and protect fundamental freedoms but also guarantee the full enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms.

The Human Rights Defenders Network Sierra Leone (HRDN-SL) is a coalition of civil society organizations and individuals working to promote and protect human rights with a specific focus on defending human rights defenders.

Signed: Executive Secretary