Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of 23-year-old journalist Farida Isiak, who was sentenced to four years in prison or a N1.75 million fine over a Facebook post criticizing police officers in Kaduna State.
The human rights organization described her conviction as an abuse of power and an attempt to silence journalists and suppress freedom of expression.
Farida Isiak, a reporter with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna, was reportedly arrested after a dispute between her mother and a neighbor over N100 change from a charcoal sale.
According to Amnesty International, police arrested her mother and later detained her father when he went to seek her release, allegedly using their detention to compel Farida Isiak to report to the police station.
She was subsequently accused of defaming the officers in a Facebook post criticizing their treatment of her parents. Although she reportedly deleted the post and apologized, she remained in custody and was taken before a Sharia Court in Kawo, where she received the four-year sentence or fine.
Amnesty International condemned the proceedings, saying the authorities had used the justice system to intimidate a journalist for demanding accountability.
The organization called on the Kaduna State Police Command and judicial authorities to release Farida Isiak, drop the charges, and cancel the fine.
It also urged the Nigeria Police Force to conduct an independent investigation into the officers involved and end the use of defamation charges to harass journalists and restrict press freedom.
Leave feedback about this