According to Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa, “Abdu Karim Ali waited nearly three years before being tried by a military court and sentenced to an extreme punishment simply for exercising his right to freedom of expression. This shameful judgment breaches international human rights law and standards…the authorities unlawfully held Abdu Karim Ali in prolonged arbitrary detention, and tried him in a military court, in violation of Cameroonian law and international human rights law and standards. Amnesty International calls for his immediate and unconditional release.”
Abdul Karim Ali, who ran a peace research center and advocated for mediation in the Anglophone crisis, was arbitrarily detained for 84 days after his 2022 arrest. He was interrogated about a video denouncing military torture. Amnesty International called for his release.
Hundreds in Anglophone regions remain arbitrarily detained, often convicted by military courts for exercising freedoms of expression and assembly. The UN has called for the release of several activists. Additionally, Cameroon authorities have imprisoned opposition party (MRC) supporters for peaceful assembly, with 38 still detained from a 2020 protest.
Karim’s mother and wife all said they did not expect the least, but remained resolute that their son and husband is fighting a good course, strong in spirit and conviction.
Also Read: Yaoundé military court slams life sentence to Abdul Karim
