Amnesty International has called on Sierra Leonean authorities to release Hawa Hunt, a well-known Sierra Leonean-Canadian artist and reality TV personality, who has been in detention for over a month after being arrested on live television.
Hunt was charged under the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021 for allegedly insulting President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio in a viral social media video.
In a statement, Michèle Eken, senior researcher at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa office, condemned Hunt’s prolonged detention and urged authorities to ensure a fair legal process.
“Hawa Hunt has now been detained for over a month. Her multiple requests for bail have been refused while her mental health is being affected, according to her lawyer. We call on the Sierra Leonean authorities to release Hawa Hunt and observe all due process guarantees for her in line with international standards, including her right to be brought in front of a court promptly,” said Eken.
Amnesty International has also raised concerns over the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021, under which Hunt is being prosecuted, warning that it has been used in multiple cases to suppress freedom of expression.
“Offences such as libel and defamation should be decriminalized. Sierra Leonean law should be brought into line with the country’s international human rights obligations,” Eken added.
Arrest and Charges
Hunt, 42, was arrested on December 22, 2024, while participating in the Sierra Leonean reality show *House of Stars*. The arrest, which happened live on air, shocked viewers and quickly sparked debate over freedom of speech in the country.
She is facing two counts of “transmitting insulting messages via a computer system” under the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021. Prosecutors argue that her video, in which she criticized President Bio and the First Lady, incited public disorder and harmed their reputation.
Calls for Bail and Legal Concerns
Despite multiple requests, Hunt has been denied bail, with her legal team expressing concerns over her deteriorating mental health. Amnesty International has urged authorities to consider non-custodial measures, arguing that pre-trial detention should only be used when strictly necessary and proportionate.
The case has drawn significant public attention, with human rights advocates warning of increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in Sierra Leone.
Amnesty International continues to monitor the case and has called for urgent legal reforms to prevent the misuse of cyber laws against government critics.
The so called international bodies interfering with matters relating to the state of Sierra Leone also has their own governing laws regarding human behaviours.
Every citizen has a right and also has a responsibilities. So if a citizen has a exercise his or her right, MUST, do it responsibly.
You can’t be insulting leaders, using abusive languages on people on social media, words words which are not allowed in a well disciplined home. And the international bodies are calling it freedom of speech, which they themselves can never allow in their own countries. Who they actually think they are, they think Africa ground for all such of rubbish?
She must be treated based on on the laws of Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 and not according to the dictates of the so called international bodies.