‘This is unacceptable’

This is a call to free Abdul Karim Ali who is in detention without charge. Abdul Karim Ali is a Muslim scholar and peace activist who stands for the restoration of the independence and sovereignty of Southern Cameroons. He denounced the ills of the repressive and genocidal regime of Cameroon, condemning the gross killings, burning of civilians, properties, summary disappearances/executions, use of torture, arbitrary arrest, and detention of unarmed civilians and so much more. He is respected for his advocation for freedom and justice.

He demonstrated braveness and compassion by visiting communities that were recked by the violent killings orchestrated by the Cameroon military and stood by those who had lost their loved ones. He attended funerals, encouraging the bereaved and mourning with distressed families. A very courageous freedom fighter who decided to stay back home and fight for peace and justice. Today, he is languishing in jail for speaking out and denouncing the Human Rights violations committed by the Biya regime in the ongoing armed conflict against the people of Southern Cameroons.

On the 25^th of September 2019, Abdul Karim Ali was arrested in front of the Swiss Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon. At the time of his arrest, the only charge that was laid against him was that he participated in meetings that were meant to facilitate the Swiss negotiation process between the Cameroon government and leaders from Southern Cameroons. On that fateful day, he had stopped by the Swiss embassy to brief the Ambassador of his recent trip to Switzerland. This follows the announcement of the Swiss government’s engagement earlier on around June 2019 to mediate the peace process between the Cameroon government and the leaders of Southern Cameroons. An initiative that will potentially put an end to the ongoing conflict in Southern Cameroons.       

While in detention, it was recorded that he suffered different forms of abuse from the Cameroon government. He was prevented from performing his prayer sessions as a devote Muslim, made to eat food that did not respect his Islamic standards, deprived access to a doctor and a lawyer and was subjected to restrictions as to contacts with his family and loved ones. Concerns rose over his health as he was subjected to starvation. There were also reports circulating that he was beaten and tortured.

Just like Abdul Karim, more than 4,000 Southern Cameroonians have been picked up in similar manner and are being held unlawfully in jails, prisons, and detention camps across Cameroon. The arbitrary arrests and detention without charge of Southern Cameroonians by the Biya regime is a violation of Human Rights and is unacceptable.

The arrest of Abdul Karim was reported across national and international media and the Swiss embassy in Yaoundé, as well as notable religious leaders called for his immediate and unconditional release. Thank goodness he was finally released on November 1^st, 2019.

With the Cameroon government, the negative side of history always repeats itself and once again, Abdul Karim was abducted on the 11^th of August 2022 in Bamenda, and taken to the local police station. He was later transferred to the State Defence Secretariat in Yaoundé, which is very renowned for the widespread use of torture. The next day, his family was denied access to bring him food and necessities. He was questioned in the absence of a lawyer and charged with the possession of videos that exposed the Human Right abuses perpetuated by Cameroon military.

The question here is, how is that a crime? His phone is a private property and according to Human Rights, one is free to hold his own opinion that is different from that of their government. Expressing your right to self-determination is neither a crime nor terrorism. These are basic Human Rights. Just like Abdul Karim, the Biya regime has charged all those arrested during the ongoing Anglophone crisis to be terrorists and many (including the Nera 10, leaders of Southern Cameroons) are serving life sentences in jail. This common charge the regime has been imposing on Southern Cameroonians to justify their brutality and gross violations of human rights.

In January 2023, images of Abdul Karim emerged on social media revealing a frail, depressed and unhealthy person. On the 3^rd of February 2013, he was transferred to the central prison at Kondengui in Yaoundé. This continuous detention in inhuman and deplorable conditions is a call for concern as it will potentially cause his physical and mental health to deteriorate further. Worth mentioning here is the case of Samuel Wazizi, a journalist who was tortured to death in detention.  There exists a potential likelihood of reoccurrence. The illegal and unlawful arrest and detention of Abdul Karim is not an isolated case as thousands of Southern Cameroonians have been arbitrarily arrested, detained, and tortured to death since the onset of the crisis in 2016.

The judicial system of Cameroon has not put forward any justification for his abduction and continuous detention. This is unacceptable, given that his detention is based solely on him exercising his rights to freedom of expression.  

Many Southern Cameroonian groups, communities and individuals have repeatedly called for his unconditional release to no avail. This is a crime against humanity and we the people of Southern Cameroons, look up to the international community to put pressure on the Biya’s regime to release Abdul Karim Ali and all those detained unlawfully in their dungeons. The regime has violated basic human rights and there is so much uncertainty with regards to the current welfare of all those in detention, given that the regime is responsible for several deaths and disappearances in detention.

Join me now to ask for #freeabdulkarimali

Author: Emilia Efeti Agey