The Gambia has released Imam Baba Leigh five months in prison for criticizing the death penalty

TVC NEWS

BANJUL - The Gambia has released Imam Baba Leigh, a vocal religious cleric and leading critic of President Jammeh's government, detained last year.
Leigh was held in prison for five months for criticizing the execution of death row inmates.

His release was announced Friday night under the pressure of human rights organizations, the African Union and the West African bloc
ECOWAS, which have insisted he be set free since he was arrested by state security agents.
Local newspapers had published a statement from the British and American envoys on the Imam’s predicament earlier on Friday.

“As a leading Islamic scholar, Imam Baba Leigh is a frequent interlocutor of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Department of State and is known as a trusted religious leader throughout The Gambia. The Gambia’s National Intelligence Agency allegedly detained him on Monday, December 3 for reasons unknown. Imam Baba Leigh has not been seen or heard from in five months and the Government of The Gambia continues to deny providing information about his whereabouts,” the joint statement said.

He later appeared on national television along with other Islamic clerics, apparently thanking the President for “pardoning” him.

But statehouse Imam, Abdoulie Fatty said President Jammeh was not responsible for his detention since 3 December.