PRESS RELEASE

Freetown | 13th December 2021

SLAJ CONDEMNS ATTACK ON ASMAA JAMES OF RADIO DEMOCRACY 98.1FM

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) today accompanied the Station Manager of Radio Democracy 98.1FM, Mrs. Asmaa James, to the Cyber Unit of the Sierra Leone Police to make a formal complaint in relation to a video containing obscenities against her personality posted on social media by musician aka LAJ.

Radio Democracy, including other radio stations and newspapers, merely reported what the Magistrate ordered in a Court sitting involving LAJ, without any personal comment or reference to the musician, save the particulars of the case which specifically named him in Court.

Therefore, SLAJ is shocked by the content of the said video directly targeting the personality of a hard-working journalist who was just doing her normal work, and the fact that it came from a musician whose career the media helped to build and who is expected to be a positive role model in society.

SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, said: “This is not only an attack on one of our respected and outstanding female journalists but also on our journalism profession and the women of this nation. This is absolutely unacceptable and we condemn it entirely. Our society does not deserve this kind of uncouth behavior. Regrettably, we know the hard-earned reputation of our dear colleague will not be redeemed by any penalty that will be meted on the alleged perpetrator but we will not rest until justice is served.”

Meanwhile, while we leave the Sierra Leone Police to do their work, SLAJ calls on all media houses in the country to blacklist musician aka LAJ and ensure that he doesn’t enjoy any favourable coverage until he publicly apologises to Mrs. James and her family, and to the journalists and women of this country.

Signed:

Alhaji Manika Kamara

Acting Secretary General