The United States Embassy in Banjul has joined many organizations and citizens to congratulate Imam Baba Leigh on his Human Rights Defender Awards by the Pan African Human rights Defenders Network. Last week The Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network named Imam Baba Leigh as the first ever recipient of the African Human Rights Defenders’ Award “recognizing his work towards protecting and promoting human rights in West Africa.”
On its face book page the US Embassy in Banjul congratulated the Imam for his steadfastness and unflinching stance on defending the rights of women, children and the poor. Imam Leigh is well known for his work as a member of the GAMCOTRAP fighting against harmful practices of female circumcision, poverty and social injustices in the Gambia.
Readers may recalled that the outspoken Kanifing Imam was arrested by State Agents and detained in incommunicado for over five months without a word from the administration on his detention and whereabouts. This prompted a collective condemnation and an international outcry on the detention of the Imam and his continuous incarceration. His arrest was allegedly linked to his condemnation of the administration which summarily executed 9 prisoners in Gambia and failed to handover or account for their bodies.
Imam Leigh was later released with a pretense of a Presidential pardon but no explanation was given. The world welcomed his release with relief and jubilation. He was greeted about the world with open arms and celebrated for his stance against injustice. Imam Leigh continue his work as a Human Rights Defender and a strong advocate of a violence free society and religion.
As a result, Imam Leigh was awarded this prestigious Human Rights Award becoming the first ever recipient of the African Human Rights Defenders’ Award. He is well respected in Gambian communities and international institutions across the world.