Take Action Release prisonners of conscience

Release newspaper reporter "Chief" Ebrima B. Manneh and protect freedom of expression in The Gambia
"Chief" Ebrima B. Manneh was arrested in July 2006 at the offices of the newspaper Daily Observer by plainclothes officers, thought to have been from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He has been held in incommunicado detention without charge or trial for over two years. Please call on Gambian authorities to release "Chief" Ebrima Manneh, a prisoner of conscience.

In July 2006, police officers wearing civilian clothes stormed the newspaper office where reporter Chief Ebrima B. Manneh worked and detained him. The National Intelligence Agency believed to be involved in his arrest subsequently denied any involvement. The Gambian government also officially denied having any knowledge of Manneh’s whereabouts.

In June of this year, a regional court ordered the Gambian government to release Ebrima Manneh. After two whole years and repeated inquiries from Chief Manneh’s family, fellow journalists, and human rights activists, the Gambian government has refused to acknowledge that they have Manneh in custody.

In 2007, Manneh was spotted twice under armed guard – once in an Eastern Gambian prison and once being escorted into a hospital. His family and friends grow increasingly concerned about his safety, health and human rights. Demand the Gambian government to return prisoner of conscience Manneh to his family.

Just a few weeks ago, Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois joined Amnesty International in calling on the Gambian government to release Manneh. Amnesty International considers Chief Manneh to be a prisoner of conscience.