Sierra Leone: Policeman arrested over journalist’s death

17 Jun 11 | Index Index, minipost

A policeman was arrested yesterday (16 June) as the key suspect in the killing of Ibrahim Foday, a journalist for Exclusive newspaper. Foday was stabbed five days ago in Freetown while covering a riot on a land dispute, the cause of his death was not initially made clear. Sierra Leone journalists are now condemning his murder. The president of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Umaru Fofanah, said: “Journalists in Sierra Leone must not continue being the endangered species.”

Sierra Leone: Ten journalists violently attacked by opposition

08 Mar 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized

Ten journalists in Sierra Leone have been assaulted by members of an opposition party during their national conference. The International Federation of Journalists disclosed that supporters of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) physically attacked reporters as they were preparing to record the second day of the event in Bo. High ranking members of the SLPP were reported to have seized and stolen the cameras and mobile phones of the journalists present.

Sierra Leone: Supreme Court throws out libel law challenge

13 Nov 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features

Sierra Leone’s Supreme Court has dismissed a case for the repeal of criminal and seditious libel brought by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ). Provisions in the 1965 Public Order Act stipulate prison terms for journalists found guilty of libel and prohibit truth as a defence. SLAJ argues that this undermines freedom of speech as guaranteed in the country’s 1991 constitution. (IPI)

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