This is happening7:23Canadian trapped in Sierra Leone for criticism of the president and the first lady
Calgarian Alicia Hunt says that her mother is wasted in a violent and overcrowded prison, all because she criticized the president and the first lady of Sierry Leone in social media.
Hawa Hunt, a double Citizen of Canada and Sierra Leone, was arrested live on TV in December while filming the Reality Show in Freetown, the capital of the country of West Africa, and has been imprisoned there since then.
During a short video conversation from prison last week, Alicia claims that her 42-year-old mother seemed emaciated, her eyes collapsed, and the skin covered with bite of mosquitoes and beds, a clear contrast with a strong and effective woman who gained the name online Influence on fitness in social media.
She told her daughter that there was not enough food behind bars, and that the guards regularly beat her and other prisoners.
“In a sense, she tried to laugh, saying:” But it's normal here in Africa, “which is very disturbing to me,” said 20 -year -old Alicia This is happening Guest host Helen Mann.
“This is what she could reveal to me during a video conversation, which was watched by prison guards. So … who knows what else they are doing behind closed doors? “
CBC was unable to contact the Sierra Leone government for a comment.
Amnesty International calls for its release
Hawa was arrested on December 22, 2024, appearing as a player on a television program House of stars, According to the Human Rights Group, Amnesty International.
He faces two allegations of “transmitting offensive messages through a computer system” based on the Sierra Leone cyber security and crime Act, and Law Amnesty International claims that it is used to suppress freedom of speech.
Hawa is a well -known personality of social media and television in Sierra Leone and has over 100,000 observers on Facebook, Tiktok and Instagram, where he often publishes about fitness and well -being.
But it was a recently repeated political position from 2023, which led to her arrest, in which she accuses President Julius Maada Bio of an attempt to buy people's voices and offends his wife Fatima Bio.
Amnesty says he has repeatedly refused a deposit.
“We are really concerned about the arbitrary arrest and detention of Hawa Hunt, because we think it should have been released so far,” said CBC Solomon Sogbandi, director of Amnesty International Sierra Leone National.
The Calgary Family of the Canadian woman deals with her prosperity after she was arrested on live television on Sierra Leone while filming a reality show house of stars. Hawa Hunt, a double citizen, was imprisoned for old posts in social media, criticizing the president and the first lady of the country.
Alicia admits that her mother technically broke the law with her film, but claims that she did not deserve the treatment she had to survive.
He calls on the Canadian government to help, but says that they have done very little so far.
“I know that my mother must follow Sierra Leone's rights when she is there,” she said. “However, I am asking for the intervening of a Canadian citizen to use and maintain inhuman conditions.”
In E -Mail, spokeswoman Global Affairs Charlotte MacLeod said that Canada “is aware of the arrest of a Canadian citizen in Sierra Leone.”
“Consular officials are in contact with local authorities and provide consular services. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed, “we read in the statement.
Daughter, YouTube's apology was forced, says the daughter
Less than a week after her arrest, Hawa appeared in the movie on YouTube Apologizing for the criticism of the president and the first lady.
The film is entitled “Exclusive interview with Hawa Hunt” and appears on the channel called IB Blog Online TV, which is “a digital media platform covering live events, politics, entertainment, sport, documentary films and more.”
In him, a man with a microphone sits near Hawa on the couch and bends over her when he asks her questions about her post on social media. He smiles when he says he is “apologetic” and “crushed”, and insists that the police would treat her professionally and not stand before harassing or abuse.
“I believe that my mother was forced to make this movie,” said Alicia. “None of this seemed natural.”
When a video appeared with an apology, Alicia says that no one in the family was in contact with Hawa yet.
“We still tried to come up with how to contact her. So for her, you know, be detained, and then just jumping in an interview, so suddenly, as if she were a free woman, she was very disturbing, “she said.
Alicia says that she hired a lawyer for her mother and reaches politicians and the Canadian embassy in Sierra Leone. He says that she also wrote a personal letter “cordial” to the president and his wife, asking for gentleness.
He hopes that at least Hawa will receive a bail and be able to see a doctor. But she really wants, she says that her mother has received a full pardon and will come home.
“I know that my mother is proud of me and is proud of the work I have done for her, and I intend to push until I get this meeting,” she said. “I just can't wait for him to come home with me in Calgary, so I can, you know, give her treatment she deserves.”