The Lawyers’ Society has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of civil society activists Thomas Babadi and Wadi Williams, who were detained in connection with their plans to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) offices.
In a statement, the Lawyers’ Society criticized the police action as a blatant violation of the activists’ constitutional rights. Sections 25(1) and 26(1) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Act No. 6 of 1991) guarantee freedom of expression and assembly, which underpin the right to protest.
The Lawyers’ Society noted that while the police have a duty to maintain order and protect life and property, this responsibility does not justify arbitrarily denying citizens their right to peaceful protests. The group argued that such actions erode public trust and undermine democratic principles.
“This arrest is not only unlawful but a troubling sign of shrinking civic space,” the Society said. “Citizens who follow the law by notifying the police of their intention to protest should not face detention as a consequence.”
The organization highlighted that, in many past instances, protests were restricted due to claims of “faceless leadership.” However, in this case, the protest leaders were clearly identified, yet their request was denied, and they were detained. This, the Lawyers’ Society said, raises concerns about the sincerity of the police’s justification for banning protests.
The Society has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Babadi and Williams, stating that their detention is unlawful and infringes on their constitutional rights. “Failure to release them will leave us with no choice but to pursue appropriate legal measures to secure their freedom,” the statement warned.
The Lawyers’ Society urged the authorities to prioritize dialogue over repression, emphasizing that the health of Sierra Leone’s democracy depends on safeguarding civil liberties and fostering open discourse. They argued that restricting peaceful protests could push individuals toward more extreme methods of expressing dissatisfaction with government policies, a scenario that could destabilize the nation.
The right to peaceful assembly and expression is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right. It is the duty of the state to protect, not suppress, these rights,” the statement concluded.The arrests have sparked broader discussions about the state of civil liberties in Sierra Leone, with growing calls for reforms to ensure the police respect constitutional freedoms while maintaining public order.
