Invoking the amnesty law that was passed just before the presidential election, Ciré Clédor Ly, one of Ousmane Sonko’s most well-known attorneys, has made a statement from his German hospital bed today, requesting the release of those who have been the targets of abuse and arbitrary arrests under the regional prosecutor’s office.

The attorney voiced alarm about the fact that many people are still in detention after some were given conditional releases, with some subjected to onerous and humiliating rules like electronic bands.

The attorney stressed that the state’s amnesty statute should lead to the instant release of all who qualify, irrespective of their status or standing. A range of circumstances were delineated, encompassing persons who are awaiting trial, those undergoing the appeals process, and those whose cases are awaiting final processing.

Ciré Clédor Ly demanded that regional prosecutors take immediate action, assembling thorough lists of every person detained since March 2021 and drawing attention to their cases. The attorney underlined the importance of finding a prompt, comprehensive solution that complies with the amnesty law’s provisions.

The attorney concluded by pleading with the newly appointed Minister of Justice to guarantee that no political prisoner be kept behind bars and arguing that the amnesty statute should be the legal foundation for their release. The attorney emphasized that formalities shouldn’t impede the law’s implementation, which aims to erase crimes and misdeeds that have been unfairly and arbitrarily imputed to specific people.