Supporters and sympathisers of jailed Anglophone activist, Abdul Karim Ali who is sympathetic to the plights of the former Southern Cameroons have raised concerns over his wellbeing in detention.
This follows the circulation of a rare photo of the activist that went viral recently.
The activist who also prefers to be referred to as Muslim scholar, appeared on the photo with ‘strange’ looks.
Looking completely bearded and uncombed, many say all is not well with his detention conditions.
Others suggest he is paying the price of freedom for Cameroonians of English expression who are clamouring for a separate state from French dominant Republic of Cameroon.
“More courage bro. That’s exactly the price to pay for freedom. One day God will see us through the RED SEA'” commented a social media user.
To Prince J Carr, a diaspora based separatist campaigner, “Our Comrade Abdul Karim Paying the Price of Freedom for his people.May Allah give you more strength. Freedom is coming.”
According to others sympathisers, Cameroon was never a safe place for Karim to stay because of his critical political opinions.
“He is a good freedom fighter. Abdul Karim had the chances to remain abroad but he choose to come back home and fight for his people,” said Papy, adding that: “He has been visiting many countries abroad like Canada where he could had just remain there and seek asylum.”
It should be recalled that Karim was arrested without a warrant on August 11, 2022 in Bamenda, headquarters of the North West region of Cameroon. He was later transferred to the National Gendarmerie Secretariat, SED in Yaounde.
According to human rights watch, Karim “…was taken to the regional légion de gendarmerie where he was detained for 84 days, including being held incommunicado for several days, in violation of international and regional human rights norms.”
Now, the 41-year-old has been in detention for over 160 days — and his lawyers have raised concerns about his physical and mental state.
“He is detained in a cell with no window, deprived of food and water for several days, and had to use a single bucket both as a toilet and for bathing,” said Barrister Tamfu Richard.
“Cameroonian authorities and its Judicial system have violated all national and international rules applicable in criminal prosecution,” added Barrister Tamfu.
Abdul Karim is being accused of terrorism and secession — criminal charges that have become common in government’s campaign against the separatist movement in Anglophone Cameroon.
Mimi Mefo Info
