*PRESS FREEDOM ALERT!*
Police has detained journalist *Sorie Saio Sesay* of Okentuhun Radio FM 94.0 in Kamakwie for *”publishing false information”* on social media about an incident between the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and commercial bike riders in Makeni city yesterday 26th May 2022.
Talking to the President of SLAJ this morning at Panlap Police Divisional Headquarters in Makeni, Sorie said he mistakenly forwarded the said information from one Whatsapp forum to his own Whatsapp group called ‘Latest Happenings’. Members of the group include high ranking officials of the SLP.
SLAJ condemns the arrest and detention of Sorie and calls on the Police for his immediate release.
“We continue to urge the SLP to stop arresting journalists for what they publish whether the information is false or true. We further urge them to refer all such cases to the Independent Media Commission or the SLAJ Disciplinary Committee for appropriate action,” said SLAJ President, Ahmed Said Nasralla, who is currently in Makeni ahead of the Association’s Triennial General Meeting 2022.
While we are trying to secure the release of Sorie, SLAJ is encouraging journalists to crosscheck information before publishing or forwarding on social media.
*-SLAJ North*
SLAJ Secretariat
