By Noah Brennan
A former Canadian politician has resigned from his role as Honorary Consul for Sierra Leone in protest of the country’s continued detention of Hawa Hunt, a Calgary woman jailed since December over past social media criticism of the country’s president and first lady.
Former Canadian defence minister David Pratt, who served as Honorary Consul of Sierra Leone for over a decade, recently submitted his resignation letter to the High Commissioner to Canada at the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C.
In the letter, Pratt cited his longstanding connections with Sierra Leone but said the country’s handling of Hunt’s case and apparent disregard for fundamental human rights made it impossible for him to continue in his role.
“I believe very strongly that Sierra Leone needs to have a higher regard for human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, than has been on display recently,” Pratt wrote. “Under the circumstances, I feel I can no longer continue as the honorary consul for Sierra Leone and hereby tender my resignation.”
In an interview from Ottawa, Pratt told Postmedia Calgary he was “shocked” to learn of Hunt’s arrest and called her continued detention “overkill.”
Pratt said his resignation was meant to send a message of protest to officials.
“I hope that if somebody in the embassy or the Sierra Leone Foreign Ministry does look at the letter, they will understand that at least this particular honorary consul was not happy about the way they dealt with a Canadian citizen,” he said.
Pratt described his longstanding connections with Sierra Leone going back 35 years, having served in roles such as a special envoy to the country under two Canadian foreign ministers and meeting with several of the country’s presidents going back decades.
Pratt described his role as honorary consul as largely facilitative, assisting Sierra Leoneans in Canada with immigration questions, helping Canadians visiting Sierra Leone and arranging meetings for Sierra Leonean officials with the Canadian government.
Concerns raised over Hawa Hunt’s treatment
His resignation comes amid growing concern over Hunt’s treatment in the Freetown prison where she is being held — Pademba Road Prison — which Pratt says “is not a nice place.”
Hunt, a 43-year-old mother of three who has lived in Calgary for the past decade, was arrested on live television in Sierra Leone on Dec. 22. She faces charges under the country’s Cybersecurity and Crime Act for allegedly “transmitting insulting messages via a computer system.” Hunt had previously apologized to President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio, but remains in detention. Multiple bail requests have been denied.
Hunt’s 20-year-old daughter, Alicia, has been publicly pleading for Canadian officials to intervene, claiming that her mother has reported being mistreated in detention. These claims include Hunt being beaten by prison guards, starved and subjected to inhumane conditions such as being forced to sleep on a dirt floor in an overcrowded cell without proper sanitation.
“My mom has confirmed that she does get regularly beaten by prison guards,” Alicia told a Postmedia reporter last week, while also raising concerns about her mother’s declining health in detention.
Global Affairs Canada has previously confirmed it is “aware of the arrest of a Canadian citizen in Sierra Leone” but has declined to provide further details, citing privacy considerations.
Hunt’s case has drawn international condemnation, with Amnesty International calling for Hunt’s release and the decriminalization of defamation in line with international human rights standards.
