footage of an opposition candidate’s nomination. On 10 November, Alhagie Manka, an independent photojournalist, and Yunus Salieu, a journalist at the Observer, were both arrested after filming supporters of the President. Yunus Salieu was released without charge the following day, and Alhagie Manka was released without charge on 16 November. In October, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice heard a case brought by the Federation of African Journalists and four exiled Gambian journalists, challenging the draconian press laws and claiming that the measures adopted in enforcing these laws violated the rights of journalists, including the right to freedom from torture. FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY Peaceful protests were violently repressed and protesters arrested. On 14 April, members of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) and youth groups demonstrated peacefully in Serrekunda in favour of electoral reform. Police dispersed the protest violently and arrested several people. Some of those arrested were seriously injured and one man – Solo Sandeng, UDP Organizing Secretary – died in custody shortly after his arrest. Twenty-five of those arrested were eventually charged and detained in Mile 2 Prison in the capital Banjul. Thirteen were later released and 12 were moved to Janjanbureh Prison. On 21 July, 11 people were convicted of participating in an unauthorized protest and related offences and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. They were released on bail pending appeal on 8 December. On 16 April, UDP members gathered peacefully in Banjul outside the house of UDP leader Ousainou Darboe, calling for justice for Solo Sandeng’s death and the release of arrested UDP members. Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators and beat them with batons. Several UDP executive members, including Ousainou Darboe, were Amnesty International Report 2016/17 arrested along with other protesters and bystanders. On 20 July, 19 people, including Ousainou Darboe, were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for participating in an unauthorized protest and related offences. They were released on bail pending appeal on 5 December. On 9 May, around 40 protesters were arrested as they made their way towards Westfield, a suburb of Banjul, after the court hearing of Ousainou Darboe and others. Protesters were stopped by the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) who beat them. Some protesters threw stones in reaction and several people, including a PIU officer, were injured. Fourteen people were on trial at the end of the year following this protest. Two women were granted bail in May and the remaining twelve men were granted bail on 6 December. Campaign rallies were permitted during the official two-week election campaign period before 30 November, with thousands of Gambians taking part peacefully. TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT Those arrested during the April protests were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. Among them was businesswoman Nogoi Njie, who stated in an affidavit filed at the High Court that she had been beaten with hosepipes and batons by men wearing black hoods and gloves while water was poured over her at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Banjul. She also stated that she had seen Solo Sandeng there; his beaten body was swollen and bleeding and she feared he was dead. On 13 June, the authorities admitted in their response to a habeas corpus application that Solo Sandeng had died during his arrest and detention and that an inquiry had been launched. No further information had been made publicly available by the end of the year. DEATHS IN CUSTODY On 21 February, trade union leader Sheriff Dibba, Secretary-General of the Gambian National Transport Control Association 163