Two journalists have been arrested, and are currently detained, for allegedly seeking a permit from the police to hold a peaceful demonstration over the recent execution of nine death row inmates.
Baboucarr Ceesay, first vice president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), also working with The Daily News newspaper, and Abubacarr Saidykhan, a freelance journalist, were arrested on Friday.
According to informed sources, they were arrested after “seeking from the Inspector General of Police, a permit to hold a peaceful demonstration from Arch 22 to State House in Banjul.”
In a press release issued on Sunday, the GPU confirmed the arrest of the two journalists.
The Union said its personnel visited police headquarters in Banjul on Friday afternoon, but were denied access to the detained journalists.
“And the police declined to inform the GPU officials why the two journalists are being held at the police headquarters,” the Union said.
According to the Union, the families of the two journalists informed the GPU that the police escorted the duo to their respective homes on Friday morning, and searched their houses.
Up to the time of going to press, the two remained in detention.
