Abdoulie G. Dibba
It is 74 days today since Imam Cherno Gassama of Dasilami in Lower
Fulladou West District, Central River Region of Gambia, was arrested
and held incommunicado at Janjangbureh prison.A family source told this reporter that they are still not informed
about or aware of the reason why the Imam is held and denied access to
see his family.
“We have made several attempts to see him at his place of detention at
Janjangbureh prison but have always been denied access by the prison
wardens,” said the source.
Imam Gassama’s family is calling on the authorities to allow them
access and to release him.
It was earlier reported that Imam Gassama was arrested on Monday, 2
November, 2015 at his residence in Dasilami by an operative of the
National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and a police officer from the
Brikamaba police station. The Imam was held briefly at the Brikamaba
police station before he was finally transferred to Janjangbureh
Prison on the same day.
Imam Gassama is detained beyond 72 hours which is in violation of
Section 19 Subsection (3)(b) of the constitution of the second
republic which states that “Any person who is arrested or detained…
who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a
court and, in any event, within seventy-two hours”.
