288:. Jammeh continued to denounce the journalists, however, making a state television appearance to say "So they think they can hide behind so-called press freedom and violate the law and get away with it? They got it wrong this time ... We are going to prosecute them to the letter."
253:. The six were charged with sedition and criminal defamation of the president. Jabbi-Dibba (the only woman) was held in Mile 2 prison, while Saine, Sawaneh, Faal, Saar, and Touray were held in Old Jeshwang prison. On 8 August, Jabbi-Dibba's seven-month-old baby was taken away.
222:
In
November 2008, the International Press Institute began a "Justice Denied" campaign pressing for investigations into violence against journalists in the Gambia, particularly the still-unsolved murder of Deyda Haydara. At a June 2009 press conference, Gambian President
187:
story titled "Arrested
Gambian Diplomat Sent to Mile 2", in which the paper reported that Lamini Sabi Sanyang, an arrested official from Gambia's US Embassy, had been transferred to Mile 2 Prison; Saine had been detained for refusing to reveal his
330:(Côte d'Ivoire). Saine described the award as a morale-booster and "an inspiration for journalists who are fighting for freedom of the press and the interests of justice, democracy and human rights not only in the Gambia but in all of Africa".
908:
231:
then published a statement criticizing the lack of press freedom in Gambia, the stalled progress of the investigation, and the president's remarks, which the union called "inappropriate". The statement ran in
387:
178:
reporter Modou
Sanyang were arrested by Gambian police for suspicion of "publishing and spreading false information". Sanyang was released with a warning, but Saine was formally charged. According to the
928:
192:. One week later, following another report on Gambia's US Embassy, Saine was arrested again, interrogated at length, and given a second charge of "publishing and spreading false information".
227:
disparaged questions about the Hydara investigation, saying "And up to now one of these stupid Web sites carries 'Who Killed Deyda Hydara'? Let them go and ask Deyda Hydara who killed him."
124:
and
Babucarr Gaye; Hydara and Saine had been friends since childhood. Gaye resigned four months later, and Hydara and Saine ran the paper together for the next decade. Saine also worked as a
391:
295:(£5,780) apiece. However, Jammeh pardoned them in September, following a campaign of "domestic and international pressure". The pardons were issued to coincide with
524:
152:
245:
The
Gambian government responded by arresting six journalists: Pap Saine, News Editor Ebrima Sawaneh, and reporters Sarata Jabbi-Dibba and Pa Modou Faal of
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and having obtained a
Gambian birth certificate through "false statements". He faced separate trials for each set of charges, both on 12 March in Banjul.
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147:. Hydara announced his intent to challenge these laws, but on 16 December, was assassinated by an unknown gunman while driving home from work in
143:; the other, the Newspaper (Amendment) Bill 2004, required newspaper owners to purchase expensive operating licenses, registering their homes as
465:
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135:
On 14 December 2004, the Gambia passed two new media laws. One, the
Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill 2004, allowed prison terms for
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On 7 August 2009, the six were convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment in Mile 2 Prison, as well as a fine of 250,000
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775:
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315:, and recognizes individuals who are "of outstanding prominence in the promotion of freedom of opinion and the press".
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Numerous human rights NGOs protested the arrests and called the charges against the journalists to be dropped.
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832:
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553:
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806:"The Gambia: Arrest of seven journalists for fighting impunity and expressing press freedom concerns"
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by the
International Press Institute. He is the third West African to have won the title, following
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645:
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51:
613:"Reporters Without Borders Posts Statement that Led to Two-Year Jail Terms for Six Journalists"
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On 9 April, the charges of "publishing and spreading false information" were formally dropped.
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151:. Hydara's murder was never solved. The following year, he was posthumously awarded the
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468:. International Freedom of Expression Exchange. 6 April 2005. Archived from
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521:""The Point" editor arrested on charges of "spreading false information""
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671:
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238:
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84:
882:"The Johann-Philipp-Palm-Award for Freedom of Speech and the Press"
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672:"Gambia: Six Journalists Condemned to Two Years in Mile 2 Prison"
203:
described the investigation of Saine as "hounding" and called on
909:
698:"The Gambia: Release of six trade union leaders and journalists"
495:"Commonwealth secretary general urged to help "save The Point""
466:"Saudi Writer, Gambian Journalist Win Freedom to Write Awards"
724:"GMB 001 / 0609 / OBS 088.1 Sentencing / Arbitrary detention"
386:
Valentin
Ladstaetter and Laura Pannasch (21 September 2010).
584:"Adjournment of trials facing editor of the daily The Point"
413:
750:"Gambia: Six journalists jailed for criticising President"
561:
166:
soon became the only independent newspaper in the Gambia.
776:"PEN Appeal: Six Jouranlists [sic] in the Gambia"
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in 2006. The award is named for a bookseller executed by
195:
On 24 February, authorities also accused Saine of being
388:"Interview with IPI World Press Freedom Hero Pap Saine"
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Journalists imprisoned for refusing to reveal sources
249:; and editor Sam Saar and reporters Emil Touray of
67:
59:
46:
38:
28:
21:
158:Following Hydara's death, Saine continued to edit
268:also campaigned for Saine's release, as did the
390:. International Press Institute. Archived from
218:Hydara murder controversy and defamation trial
8:
525:International Freedom of Expression Exchange
153:PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award
264:and demanded their immediate release. The
116:On 16 December 1991, Pap Saine co-founded
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728:International Federation for Human Rights
274:International Federation for Human Rights
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446:. International Press Institute. 2010
354:"Pap Saine: World Press Freedom Hero"
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346:
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209:Secretary General of the Commonwealth
183:, the arrests had been prompted by a
7:
646:"Attacks on the Press 2009: Gambia"
833:"Six journalists jailed in Gambia"
702:World Organization Against Torture
270:World Organization Against Torture
14:
782:. 11 August 2009. Archived from
650:Committee to Protect Journalists
266:Committee to Protect Journalists
934:Gambian prisoners and detainees
831:Chris Tryhorn (7 August 2009).
181:Media Foundation of West Africa
554:"Day of the Imprisoned Writer"
174:On 2 February 2009, Saine and
42:Newspaper editor and publisher
1:
358:International Press Institute
162:, making it a daily in 2006.
99:International Press Institute
87:editor and publisher of the
72:IPI World Press Freedom Hero
16:Gambian editor and publisher
919:Gambian publishers (people)
414:"About the Point Newspaper"
318:In 2010, Saine was named a
950:
617:Reporters Without Borders
588:Reporters Without Borders
309:Johann Philipp Palm Award
201:Reporters Without Borders
320:World Press Freedom Hero
236:and a weekly newspaper,
103:World Press Freedom Hero
262:prisoners of conscience
91:independent newspaper,
560:. 2009. Archived from
360:. 2010. Archived from
307:Saine was awarded the
303:Awards and recognition
260:designated the six as
229:The Gambia Press Union
63:independent journalism
884:. The Palm Foundation
862:. The Palm Foundation
676:Amnesty International
258:Amnesty International
810:Front Line Defenders
472:on 25 September 2012
286:Front Line Defenders
786:on 5 September 2012
780:PEN American Center
704:. 11 September 2009
564:on 25 February 2012
558:PEN American Center
394:on 30 December 2012
282:PEN American Center
652:. 16 February 2010
364:on 16 October 2011
128:correspondent for
754:International PEN
527:. 3 February 2009
278:International PEN
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97:. In 2010, the
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812:. 18 June 2009
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501:. 4 March 2009
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444:"Deyda Hydara"
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328:Freedom Neruda
326:(Liberia) and
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886:. Retrieved
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838:The Guardian
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392:the original
366:. Retrieved
362:the original
324:Kenneth Best
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225:Yahya Jammeh
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170:2009 arrests
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122:Deyda Hydara
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101:named him a
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47:Organization
860:"Laureates"
130:West Africa
120:along with
29:Nationality
903:Categories
888:3 February
866:3 February
844:3 February
816:3 February
790:3 February
760:3 February
734:3 February
708:3 February
682:4 February
656:3 February
623:5 February
594:3 February
568:3 February
531:3 February
505:3 February
476:3 February
450:3 February
425:5 February
398:3 February
368:4 February
334:References
197:Senegalese
137:defamation
109:Work with
33:The Gambia
419:The Point
247:The Point
234:The Point
164:The Point
160:The Point
118:The Point
111:The Point
94:The Point
81:Pap Saine
52:The Point
23:Pap Saine
313:Napoleon
145:security
141:sedition
297:Ramadan
251:Foroyaa
239:Foroyaa
126:Reuters
85:Gambian
293:dalasi
284:, and
280:, the
272:, the
207:, the
190:source
149:Banjul
74:(2010)
68:Awards
499:UNHCR
185:Point
176:Point
83:is a
890:2012
868:2012
846:2012
818:2012
792:2012
762:2012
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710:2012
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139:and
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