220:
the clutches of tyranny.” She called on “a selected few,” whom she dubbed 'The
Redemption Gambia Group', “to come up with a plan that will ultimately rescue our country for sliding into the abyss.” Her favorite story, she noted, was “of the American Founding Fathers. Can you imagine then the power of the British Empire? 50 Americans choose to sign the eclaration of Independence document, and shoot it out to the king,” thereby signing off “their right to live then, to liberty and to everything they own. Signing that document then was a death sentence.” As a result, many “families were torn,” but today not only are American citizens “benefiting from the actions and thoughtfulness of those brave men who came to their rescue 200 years ago, but every citizen of the world aspire to come here to the USA for education, or to know that you can work the restaurant kitchens get paid 250 dollars a week, take care of your family and live freely.”
152:, the Liberian exile who was the newspaper's publisher. Brewer “laughed at the sheer bulk of letters to the editor was sending by the day” and introduced her to Best, who asked if she wanted to be a reporter. She reportedly replied “Oh no Sir, I am not that educated... and I know nothing about reporting.” He then offered her first a position as a columnist, but after she considered the proposals decided on being a reporter. She became the newspaper's first female reporter. As she “became more of an opinionated commentator,” says Jaw-Manneh, Best would “pluck and peel my opinions out of news stories,” saying “I am not asking for your opinion. Give me the story, the Who, What and Why.”
199:
added on 20 June 2007. Each of the counts carried a prison term of two years, a fine, or both. She was released on 25,000 dalasis (US$ 950) bail, but ordered to surrender her travel documents. The trial was set for 11 April 2007. Jaw-Manneh's lawyer argued that the court lacked jurisdiction, because the alleged offenses had been committed when Jaw-Manneh was outside the country, but the court rejected this argument. English PEN protested her trial, calling the charges “a violation of her right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the
Gambian Constitution and international human rights treaties.”
231:, against Jammeh's execution of nine death-row inmates. “The man is too brutal,” said Jaw-Manneh. “We are not animals… Jammeh should not decide who should live, die, eat or travel. It is unfair.” In a videotaped interview, she said: “We have an animal as a president. He’s a cannibal, he’s a thief…he’s a very, very wicked human being….We have to show him we are not afraid of him. It has to stop, this human sacrifice, this killing Gambians every day. It has to stop.”
203:
bites. No sleep. Thank God I did not fall sick after six days of detention.” During the trial itself, she recalled, “ much has changed after this military takeover. You see judges just being pawns and dictated to. So they choose to side with the dictator, and send citizens to jail for all kinds of libel and seditious charges.”
198:
On 4 April, Jaw-Manneh appeared before a court in
Kanifing and was charged on three counts: “Intention to commit sedition,” “publication of seditious words,” and “publication of false news intended to cause public fear and alarm to the Gambian public.” A fourth charge, “uttering seditious words,” was
176:
Writing on her website
Maafanta.com, Jaw-Manneh has argued that “no other sector in Gambian civil society has suffered as much as the private press under President Yahya Jammeh.” Although he had originally “presented himself as a different kind of...leader, one who respects and believes in a free and
206:
Jaw-Manneh's trial for sedition lasted a year and a half. She was sentenced to a fine of D250,000 (about $ 11,000) or four years in jail with hard labor. PEN American Center sent a letter to
President Jammeh on September 10, 2008, to protest Jaw-Manneh's sentence and call for an acquittal, which was
202:
Jaw-Manneh's incarceration and trial were “a very difficult time for ,” she stated. “It is not easy when all of a sudden, you are restricted to an unhealthy facility. The emotional and mental torture was tough. I had to sleep in a mosquito infested room. I was red like a tomato from all the mosquito
194:
Asked if the arrest had come as a shock, Jaw-Manneh said she had been “caught off guard…but not shocked, given the hostility towards journalists in the country.” Joel Simon, executive director of the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), complained that Manneh's “week-long detention without charge
190:
newspaper in 2004. The interview, which had first appeared in June 2004, had been posted in
October 2005 on several websites, including AllGambian.net. In the interview, she had stated: “Jammeh is tearing our beloved country into shreds, he debunked our hopes and became a thorn into every issue that
219:
In her article “Plea to the
Gambian Intellectual”, written in August 2012, she wrote: “Gambia has been highjacked by an individual who is not qualified to lead our country” and who “has brought death, destruction, fear” to the country, which is “yearning for some of us to rise up” and save it “from
177:
vibrant press,” he had eventually turned the press into his “punching bag,” as a result of which “most journalists have been forced to go into exile or to abandon the profession due to family pressure, while a number of newspapers and radio stations have been indefinitely closed by the government.”
110:
She has said that her first job after high school was “a receptionist/phone operator at the
Novotel/Kombo beach Hotel.” When she was laid off during after tourist season, a friend of her father's “gave a job at his tiny juice shop,” where she “sold soft drinks and rented out action movies.” At the
215:
After her return to the U.S., Jaw-Manneh continued criticizing Jammeh, describing him as “more dangerous, more corrupt than ever” and as “one of the richest and most corrupt leaders in Africa, who is “selling everything in Gambia, from bananas to bread to meat,” and trafficking in drugs and arms.
90:
Fatou Jaw-Manneh was born in Sukuta/Foni Bulock, Gambia. She has recalled that as a young woman she “sat contemplating, with brother and his friends"...how they were "going to get a job” in a country “rife with nepotism, corruption, and serious government irresponsibility.” Her brother, she said,
185:
In March 2007, Jaw-Manneh traveled from the U.S. to Gambia, where her father had recently died. She was arrested upon arrival at Banjul
Airport on March 28, 2007, by agents of the National Intelligence Agency and charged with sedition, in part for an interview she had given to
164:
to power. After her emigration from Gambia, she was a frequent contributor to the now-defunct U.S.-based opposition website AllGambian.net. In 2003 she wrote an article, entitled “Jammeh under the Microscope,” for the Gambian newspaper
131:
because it ran “photos of our politicians,” thus providing “evidence of all our fears of and distaste for Gambian politicians,” and also “carried human-interest stories” and “represented the downtrodden.” Jaw-Manneh “began bombarding
296:
249:
She won Oxfam Novib/PEN International Free Expression Award in 2007. It is presented “to writers who continue to work for freedom of expression in the face of persecution.” She won the Hellman/Hammett award from
136:
with letters to the editor about government waste, nepotism, cheating on government scholarships, and the dangers of skin bleaching. And about corruption and everything else that was bothering our communities.”
62:
in 1994 and has lived in the U.S. ever since. She is a well-known member of the Gambian community in the U.S. and runs the popular news and politics website Maafanta.com. She was the first female reporter at the
169:, which is also now-defunct. The article, which focused on that country's poverty level and corruption, resulted in the arrest and detention of the paper's editor, Abdoulie Sey. The Gambian government shut down
216:
She has claimed that “Gambians are being detained, jailed and killed at random,” and has also charged that “Gambians have never seen such a leader and hope he is the last of his kind in the country.”
237:
When Gambia passed a restrictive new press law in 2013, Jaw-Manneh wrote on Facebook: “Senseless and Ruthless! We are not threatened and shall never back down!!!” She spoke at the
486:
234:
In November 2013, Jaw-Manneh wrote a 75th birthday tribute to Best, whom she thanked for having hired her and others who had “no family or government connections.”
345:
620:
606:
107:
and all the heavyweight reggae kings….Plus he introduced me to reading political materials and holding arguments, taking and receiving blows.”
557:
111:
time she was “a young married mother with two sons,” whose husband was “on a hustle in America,” seeking help to “get into law school.”
508:
575:
195:
violated her basic due process rights under Gambian laws.” CPJ called on Gambian authorities to drop the charges against Manneh.
75:
494:
320:
254:
in 2009. The award aims “to help writers who dare to express ideas that criticize official public policy or people in power.”
207:
ignored. She chose to pay the fine, which she was able to pay with the help of friends, family, and the Gambian Press Union.
353:
660:
119:
During this time, she was always enticed by the current events of her native country and the globe. “I would always buy
191:
is related to progress in The Gambia; be it social, political and economical. Worst of all he is a bundle of terror.”
628:
426:
655:
468:
74:. Her arrest and trial were widely covered by international human rights groups and were protested by the
123:, this new paper...” she explained. She would read avidly about the Mandelas, and about “Lady Diana and
228:
160:
Jaw-Manneh was granted political asylum in the U.S. in 1994 after the coup that brought President
148:
Eventually, she went to the newspaper's offices and met the letters editor, who was the sister of
251:
238:
600:
55:
447:
149:
124:
582:
380:
649:
100:
59:
70:
During a visit to her native country in 2007, Jaw-Manneh was arrested and tried for
161:
399:
67:
and is widely known as “Gambia's Iron Lady” and the “Dame of the Flaming Pen.”
104:
96:
92:
71:
224:
51:
30:
223:
In September 2012, Jaw-Manneh took part in a protest by Gambian and
558:"New Internet Law in The Gambia Puts Gag on Government Criticism"
509:"Gambians Demonstrate as Jammeh Plans to Execute More Prisoners"
346:"The Gambia: Journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh on Trial for Sedition"
533:
79:
321:"Happy 75th birthday Mr. Kenneth Y. Best. And Thank You!"
534:"Gambians Are Disappearing Under Jammeh's Government"
427:"US Based Journalist Charged with Sedition in Gambia"
37:
25:
18:
621:"Oxfam Novib/PEN Award for Freedom of Expression"
297:"A Day with Fatou Jaw Manneh, Gambia's Iron Lady"
8:
291:
289:
287:
15:
340:
338:
336:
334:
285:
283:
281:
279:
277:
275:
273:
271:
269:
267:
91:taught her “how to brew tea/attaya, play
469:"Banned, Censored, Harassed, and Jailed"
314:
312:
310:
263:
95:, listen to all kinds of music; mostly
605:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
598:
375:
373:
371:
227:citizens outside the State Capitol in
463:
461:
442:
440:
421:
419:
54:journalist and activist who received
7:
487:"A Plea To The Gambian Intellectual"
400:"Gambia: Fatou Jaw Manneh's Trial"
398:Ceesay, Fabakary B. (2007-04-23).
319:Jaw Manneh, Fatou (Nov 19, 2013).
14:
431:Committee to Protect Journalists
76:Committee to Protect Journalists
493:. Aug 14, 2012. Archived from
448:"PEN Appeal: Fatou Jaw Manneh"
404:FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
352:. Apr 25, 2007. Archived from
1:
677:
115:Introduction to journalism
86:Early life and education
65:Gambian Daily Observer
661:Gambian journalists
229:St. Paul, Minnesota
473:Human Rights Watch
381:"Fatou Jaw Manneh"
252:Human Rights Watch
239:Oslo Freedom Forum
78:and by PEN in the
625:Pen International
497:on June 18, 2014.
325:Liberian Observer
245:Honors and awards
45:
44:
668:
640:
639:
637:
636:
627:. Archived from
617:
611:
610:
604:
596:
594:
593:
587:
581:. Archived from
580:
572:
566:
565:
554:
548:
547:
545:
544:
530:
524:
523:
521:
520:
505:
499:
498:
483:
477:
476:
465:
456:
455:
444:
435:
434:
423:
414:
413:
411:
410:
395:
389:
388:
377:
366:
365:
363:
361:
356:on June 18, 2014
342:
329:
328:
316:
305:
304:
293:
181:Arrest and trial
56:political asylum
48:Fatou Jaw-Manneh
20:Fatou Jaw-Manneh
16:
676:
675:
671:
670:
669:
667:
666:
665:
646:
645:
644:
643:
634:
632:
619:
618:
614:
597:
591:
589:
585:
578:
576:"Archived copy"
574:
573:
569:
564:. Jul 12, 2013.
556:
555:
551:
542:
540:
532:
531:
527:
518:
516:
513:The AfricaPaper
507:
506:
502:
485:
484:
480:
475:. Oct 11, 2009.
467:
466:
459:
454:. Sep 10, 2008.
446:
445:
438:
425:
424:
417:
408:
406:
397:
396:
392:
379:
378:
369:
359:
357:
344:
343:
332:
318:
317:
308:
301:African Outlook
295:
294:
265:
260:
247:
213:
188:the Independent
183:
171:The Independent
167:The Independent
158:
150:Kenneth Y. Best
146:
125:Whitney Houston
117:
88:
33:
21:
12:
11:
5:
674:
672:
664:
663:
658:
648:
647:
642:
641:
612:
567:
549:
525:
500:
478:
457:
436:
415:
390:
367:
330:
306:
262:
261:
259:
256:
246:
243:
212:
211:Return to U.S.
209:
182:
179:
157:
154:
145:
139:
116:
113:
87:
84:
43:
42:
39:
35:
34:
29:
27:
23:
22:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
673:
662:
659:
657:
656:Living people
654:
653:
651:
631:on 2014-09-10
630:
626:
622:
616:
613:
608:
602:
588:on 2014-04-21
584:
577:
571:
568:
563:
562:Global Voices
559:
553:
550:
539:
535:
529:
526:
514:
510:
504:
501:
496:
492:
488:
482:
479:
474:
470:
464:
462:
458:
453:
449:
443:
441:
437:
432:
428:
422:
420:
416:
405:
401:
394:
391:
386:
382:
376:
374:
372:
368:
355:
351:
347:
341:
339:
337:
335:
331:
326:
322:
315:
313:
311:
307:
302:
298:
292:
290:
288:
286:
284:
282:
280:
278:
276:
274:
272:
270:
268:
264:
257:
255:
253:
244:
242:
241:in May 2014.
240:
235:
232:
230:
226:
221:
217:
210:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
189:
180:
178:
174:
172:
168:
163:
155:
153:
151:
144:
140:
138:
135:
130:
127:.” She liked
126:
122:
114:
112:
108:
106:
102:
101:Burning Spear
98:
94:
85:
83:
82:and the U.S.
81:
77:
73:
68:
66:
61:
60:United States
57:
53:
49:
40:
36:
32:
28:
24:
17:
633:. Retrieved
629:the original
624:
615:
590:. Retrieved
583:the original
570:
561:
552:
541:. Retrieved
537:
528:
517:. Retrieved
515:. 2012-09-04
512:
503:
495:the original
491:Joll of News
490:
481:
472:
451:
430:
407:. Retrieved
403:
393:
384:
358:. Retrieved
354:the original
349:
324:
300:
248:
236:
233:
222:
218:
214:
205:
201:
197:
193:
187:
184:
175:
170:
166:
162:Yahya Jammeh
159:
147:
143:The Observer
142:
134:the Observer
133:
129:the Observer
128:
121:the Observer
120:
118:
109:
89:
69:
64:
47:
46:
452:PEN America
350:English Pen
650:Categories
635:2014-06-18
592:2014-07-29
543:2018-04-18
519:2018-04-18
409:2018-04-18
258:References
225:Senegalese
141:Career at
105:Peter Tosh
97:Bob Marley
41:Journalist
38:Occupation
173:in 2006.
58:from the
601:cite web
385:Maafanta
360:June 18,
93:Scrabble
72:sedition
52:Gambian
31:Gambia
586:(PDF)
579:(PDF)
538:Vimeo
156:Exile
50:is a
607:link
362:2014
26:Born
652::
623:.
603:}}
599:{{
560:.
536:.
511:.
489:.
471:.
460:^
450:.
439:^
429:.
418:^
402:.
383:.
370:^
348:.
333:^
323:.
309:^
299:.
266:^
103:,
99:,
80:UK
638:.
609:)
595:.
546:.
522:.
433:.
412:.
387:.
364:.
327:.
303:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.