By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Guild of Newspaper Editors (GoN-SL) has strongly condemned what it described as the continued misuse of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 by law enforcement agencies to intimidate journalists and stifle free speech in Sierra Leone.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 29, 2025, the Guild expressed deep concern over the harassment of journalists under the guise of enforcing the cyber law noting that such practices undermine constitutional freedoms guaranteed to the Press.
The Guild cited the recent incident involving its Chairman and Managing Editor of the New Age Newspaper, Thomas Dixon, who was interrogated for eight hours by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with a news alert he published. According to the Guild, the interrogation was accompanied by threats of detention, a move it described as “disproportionate” and “a clear affront to press freedom, freedom of expression and due process.”
“I am worried about the future of journalism; especially as most legacy media are striving to establish a digital presence. The way the police are misusing the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 is nothing short of a reincarnation of Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act, which criminalized free speech. Today it is Thomas Dixon, but tomorrow it could be another journalist,” the Guild Chairman warned.
In a related development, Sahr Matturi, a senior journalist with the Standard Times Newspaper, was also apprehended by the CID on allegations of cyberbullying and cyberstalking. He was later released on Thursday, August 28, 2025. The Guild described his arrest as “a manifest abuse of legal process” and evidence of selective enforcement aimed at suppressing journalistic expression.
The Guild further revealed that during Thomas Dixon’s interrogation, threats were also directed against the Gleaner Newspaper’s online platform, fueling concerns that the cyber law is being weaponized to silence independent media voices.
Calling the misuse of the law “an abuse of power” and “a threat to democratic governance,” the Guild urged authorities to ensure that the Cybersecurity and Crime Act 2021 is applied strictly within its legal boundaries and not as a substitute for criminalizing journalism.
The Guild of Newspaper Editors called on:
- The Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that the Cybersecurity and Crime Act is not misapplied against journalists.
- The Sierra Leone Police to desist from intimidation tactics and respect constitutional safeguards of free expression.
- The international community, civil society and press freedom advocates to take note of these developments and stand in solidarity with Sierra Leonean journalists.
Signed by Secretary General Ishmail Saidu Kanu Esq, the Guild reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom, accountability and the rule of law, stressing that it will resist any attempts to roll back gains achieved since the repeal of criminal libel in Sierra Leone.
