Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has strongly condemned threats and insults directed at Asmaa James Kamara, director of Freetown-based Radio Democracy, by popular rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah, known as LAJ, and his alleged supporters.
In a Facebook video posted on December 11, 2021, LAJ verbally attacked Kamara, calling her a “bastard child” and making degrading threats, including saying, “The next time I see you, I will piss on your face.” The threats followed Radio Democracy’s coverage of a case in which LAJ is on trial for causing public disorder and assaulting a police officer. The station reported on his absence at a court hearing on December 6, which reportedly triggered the backlash.
Kamara expressed her shock at the rapper’s comments and revealed that she has since received multiple threatening calls from his supporters.
“It is unacceptable and criminal to threaten anyone with physical harm. And it is more outrageous when the threat is issued by a popular artiste against a professional journalist doing her reporting job,” said Muheeb Saeed, head of Freedom of Expression at MFWA.
The incident has sparked concern among press freedom advocates, who are calling for authorities to take action against threats targeting journalists in Sierra Leone.
Actions Taken
On 13th December 2021, after many comments on social media and a statement by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), the rapper issued an apology to Kamara. The latter filed a complaint against LAJ.
