FoSLYN Condemns Police Crackdown on Civil Rights
By: Alimatu Kargbo
In a bold statement on Friday, February 21, 2025, Thomas Alie Babadie, Executive Director of the Forum of Sierra Leone Youth Network (FoSLYN), accused the Sierra Leone Police of “gross human rights violations” during a press briefing.
Babadie cited key constitutional and international provisions that protect fundamental freedoms, emphasizing that Chapter 3 of the 1991 Constitution guarantees personal rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and the right to life. He also referenced the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which upholds due process, fair trials, and freedoms of religion, association, movement, and political participation.
According to Babadie, FoSLYN had formally informed the Inspector General of Police about their planned peaceful demonstration, urging the Electoral Commission to fulfill its promise of releasing full presidential election results by constituency. However, despite assurances from Electoral Commissioner Mohammed Kenawi Konneh, the results remain undisclosed.
Instead of permitting the peaceful protest, Babadie alleged that the police resorted to arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions. He described the ordeal as “serious and dehumanizing,” revealing that protesters were held for ten days, subjected to criminal investigations, and denied their fundamental rights.
“We reject, in total, the label of criminals and the attempt to implicate us in committing STATE CRIME,” Babadie declared, warning that Sierra Leone must not become a police state where citizens are silenced for exercising their rights.
Echoing these concerns, Mohamed Konneh of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) condemned the police’s actions, stressing that the right to protest is fundamental in any democracy.
“If the police continue to arbitrarily arrest citizens, Sierra Leone will not progress,” Konneh warned, criticizing the government’s silence on pressing national issues, including frequent blackouts, inadequate water supply, rising drug abuse, the cocaine scandal, and the arbitrary detention of journalists.
He called on citizens to lawfully express their concerns while urging the government to uphold justice, democracy, and accountability.
With growing pressure on authorities to respect civil liberties, critics warn that continued crackdowns could threaten Sierra Leone’s democratic gains.
