Amnesty International has urged the prompt release of Hawa Hunt, a prominent television personality and artist, currently detained in Sierra Leone. Hunt, who has dual Sierra Leonean-Canadian citizenship, was arrested on December 22, 2024, amidst filming for the reality show House of Stars. She faces charges under Sierra Leone’s Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 for allegedly spreading “insulting messages via a computer system” and inciting public disorder against President Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady, through a viral social media video.
Amnesty’s senior researcher Michèle Eken has expressed serious concerns regarding the prolonged detention, suggesting it affects Hunt’s mental health and calling for her release while ensuring adherence to international fair trial standards. “A criminal defendant may be detained pending trial only when necessary and proportionate to their offences, and non-custodial arrangements such as bail should be preferred,” she emphasized. Amnesty International has also criticized the legislation used against Hunt, advocating for the decriminalization of offenses like libel and defamation and a reform of the law to align with international human rights obligations.
The legislation under scrutiny, the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021, has been contentious since its inception, with civil society groups expressing concerns about its potential to infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights to free expression and peaceful assembly, as outlined in Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution. Sections 25 and 26 of the document safeguard the public’s right to express opinions and peacefully assemble, a fundamental concern in Hunt’s ongoing case.
To read more on this developing situation, visit the full article on JURIST – News.