US Woman Gets 3 Years In Gambia; US officials 'Outraged'

Ebrima Jawara poses with his daughters Sarah, left, and Aminata, while holding a picture of his wife Fanta Darboe Jawara, who is being held in Gambia's notorious Mile 2 Central Prison, as they anxiously await her return to their Frederick, Md. home. Jawara says his wife, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has been wrongfully sentenced to three years imprisonment in Gambia following her arrest during an anti-government protest where her husband says she was a bystander during a visit to her homeland. (Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post via AP, File)

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND  (AP) — Four Maryland congressional members expressed outrage Thursday after a court in Gambia sentenced a state resident to three years in prison following her arrest there during an anti-government protest led by her prominent dissident uncle.

Fanta Darboe Jawara's conviction and sentencing made a mockery of civil rights guaranteed by the Gambian constitution, said the joint statement from senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski and representatives Chris Van Hollen and John Delaney, all Democrats.

"She has done nothing wrong and this outcome is completely unacceptable," the officials said. "We are in touch with the State Department to learn more about the appeals process in Gambia, and are committed to doing our part to ensure Mrs. Jawara's timely release and return to her husband and children in Maryland."

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs didn't immediately respond an emailed query from The Associated Press about the case. Ebrima Jawara said his wife, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was peacefully observing the demonstration when she was arrested along with 19 others April 16 near Banjul, the capital city of the West African nation. He has said Mrs. Jawara was visiting her homeland, leaving him and their two daughters home in Frederick.

Amnesty International said in a statement that 19 of the 20 people arrested at the demonstration were sentenced to three years in jail Wednesday after a court convicted them of unlawful assembly and related counts, and acquitted them of incitement to violence.

Among those convicted and sentenced was Ousainou Darboe, Mrs. Jawara's uncle, a leader of Gambia's opposition United Democratic Party. Mr. Jawara emailed the AP what appeared to be a partial transcript of the proceeding in which the court found that Mrs. Jawara apparently did not participate in the protest, but refused to defend herself against the charges.

"The evidence was that my wife wasn't part of it," Mr. Jawara said in a telephone interview. He said she didn't offer a defense because she has no lawyer. Mrs. Jawara has been detained since her arrest. The four Maryland congressional members last month demanded her release.

The State Department has expressed concern about Mrs. Jawara's treatment while she's being held by the government of President Yahya Jammeh. Mr. Jawara is a grandson of Jammeh's predecessor, Dawda Jawara, who was ousted in a 1994 military coup. Human rights groups criticize Jammeh and say he tortures opponents and persecutes gays.