Jammeh Threatens To Arrest And Jail People Circulating His Family’s Pictures

As State House Issues Press Release Warning Culprits

By Staff Reporter Modou Gibba, Banjul

The entire Gambian nation were stunned Wednesday, when the office of the President issued a terse press release— threatening court action, and possible jail term “to individuals, groups, and organizations, who portrayed the image of the president and the First Lady’s Family on the worldwide web and elsewhere, without the expressed prior consent and permission of the Jammeh family, the Freedom Newspaper can report.

According to the news release, which was hand delivered to the Freedom Newspaper Banjul Correspondent by a staff of the State House, the President and his family expressed strong reservations against the mass dissemination of the Jammeh family pictures to parties who do not have the legal right to circulate or distribute such photos.

The release went on to state that “the president and the First Lady’s family have learnt that certain individuals, and groups have been portraying the family's images, without the approval of  the president Yahya Jammeh.

It is unclear  as to what might have triggered the State House’s press release, but the office of the President has warned  those involved in the circulation or publication of the President’s family’s pictures to desist from such practices—or risked facing arrest, and possible jail term.

The news release prevailed on Gambians to corporate fully with the Presidential directives—warning that any attempt to defy the said directive could land one into the big house, which is the Mile Two prison.

The release also advised Gambians, and non Gambians alike interested in having the President’s family’s  picture(s) to go through the right protocol. It warns that people who failed to seek permission from the President, and his family to circulate or portray such images—would be prosecuted.

The warning came a day before Gambia’s 45^th independence anniversary. Many believed that the President is trying to intimidate local photographers from having access to his family during Thursday’s morning parade—to be graced by his African counterparts.