The six journalists who were returned to Banjul’s Mile Two prison on July were 3 released again July 7 morning on bail of 400,000 dalassi (10,800 euros). The court did not immediately demand payment of the bail but it asked fellow-journalists to act as guarantors. All six have been told to report to the Banjul high court again at 9 a.m. on July 8.
“We hope they are being released for good this time,” Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) said. “The repeated imprisonment of these journalists is outrageous and unacceptable. It is as if the Gambian government were deliberately trying to terrorise journalists and press freedom activists. We also fear that the authorities are deliberately trying to ruin them financially be imposing these very high bail amounts.”
The six journalists released, all members of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), were GPU secretary general Emil Touray, GPU treasurer Pa Modou Fall, the Point publisher Pap Saine, the Point editor Ebrima Sawaneh, Foroyaa editor Sam Sarr and Foroyaa reporter Abubakar Saidykhan.
Initially jailed from June 18-22 for issuing a statement criticising President Yahya Jammeh, they had been jailed again for the same reason on July 3.
