Amnesty International has condemned the arrest, detention and four-year jail sentence handed to 23-year-old journalist Farida Isiak in Kaduna State, describing the case as vindictive and an try and silence press freedom.
The organisation mentioned the journalist’s arrest and subsequent sentencing have been linked to her try to show alleged police misconduct involving her mother and father.
Isiak, a reporter with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna, was reportedly arrested at about 10pm on Monday, October 20, by law enforcement officials beneath the command of the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaban Jos, Usman Adamu.
The organisation alleged that law enforcement officials initially arrested her mom and later detained her father when he went to hunt her launch, utilizing their detention to compel the journalist to report back to the police station.
When Isiak arrived, officers allegedly accused her of defamation over a Facebook put up criticising their remedy of her mother and father.
Amnesty International mentioned she deleted the put up and apologised in an try and safe her mother and father’ launch, however the police allegedly continued to detain her earlier than taking her to a Sharia Court in Kawo.
The court docket subsequently sentenced her to 4 years in jail or a tremendous of ₦1.75 million on a defamation cost.
Describing the proceedings as a sham trial, Amnesty International mentioned the court docket failed to handle the alleged police misconduct that triggered the incident.
“The arrest, detention, and hasty sentencing of Farida Isiak are a flagrant abuse of power by the police and weaponisation of the judicial system to silence free speech and intimidate journalists,” the organisation mentioned.
It added that detaining the journalist’s mother and father to compel her to give up to the police was an illegal tactic that violated the rule of regulation.
“Demanding accountability for police actions is a constitutional right,” Amnesty International mentioned.
The human rights organisation referred to as on the Kaduna State Police Command and Nigerian judicial authorities to safe Isiak’s quick launch, drop the costs towards her and cancel the tremendous imposed by the court docket.
It additionally urged the Nigeria Police Force to launch a full and impartial investigation into the conduct of the officers concerned within the alleged illegal detention of the journalist’s household.
Amnesty International additional referred to as on Nigerian authorities to cease utilizing defamation fees and the judicial system to harass journalists and limit press freedom.
The organisation warned that the case raises considerations concerning the safety of freedom of expression and the flexibility of journalists to carry public establishments accountable with out concern of intimidation or retaliation.
