Amnesty International condemns arrests in Senegal

By Alpha Kamara

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - Rights group Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of four people in Senegal for sharing a nude caricature of the country’s president.

The four including a female journalist were arrested on Wednesday by security forces for the dissemination of a caricature image deemed offensive to the President Macky Sall via WhatsApp.

The woman -- Ouleye Mane -- who is a local journalist working for Touba TV was referred to the prosecutor’s office on Thursday, according to a source that prefers anonymity.

Talking to sub regional broadcaster West Africa Democracy Radio in Dakar, Amnesty International Director in Senegal Seidi Gassama said: “Arresting this lady who might be sentenced to jail is a concern for us. No one should be deprived of his or her liberty for just sharing a caricature of a President.”

“In many countries, it is done. One can be sued to court, fined or warned but not arrested. This will promote media and political differences which is not good for our democracy” Gassama said.