Justice for Abubakar Boxx Konteh
Abubakar Boxx Konteh, who is a member of the All People’s Congress (APC), was recently arrested in Guinea. The arrest has sparked outrage and condemnation as the arrest appears to be an attempt to target a well-known member of the political opposition, especially since Konteh had not previously been listed on any wanted list prior to his arrest. Ahmed Sesay, a member of Konteh’s family, pointed out that Konteh had located to Guinea due to the harassment he experienced in Sierra Leone. Sesay also raised concerns over violations of Konteh’s due process given the way that the arrest has been handled. Members of Konteh’s family have not heard from him or seen him since his arrest. Even Konteh’s lawyer has not been informed about the whereabouts of Konteh, which is a violation of Konteh’s right to due process.
A statement which was released by the APC expressed concern over the trend in Sierra Leone in which members of the party are being seized and denied access to justice. The statement also explained: “His arrest, alongside our colleagues, is not only unfounded but also marks a clear deviation from the principles of democracy and political freedom we as a nation have committed to uphold.”
Konteh’s arrest is indeed worrying as it is a violation of his rights to due process. This is why I encourage readers to sign the petition below and to join the calls for justice for Abubakar Boxx Konteh. We must not remain silent about these threats to democracy and justice.
