The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ) has condemned the actions of the Sierra Leone Police on the 10th of July 2024, which involved the obstruction of Aggrieved members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) from holding a requisitioned Extraordinary General Meeting at the New Brookfields Hotel.

According to ILRAJ Press Release, the act represents a blatant violation of constitutional rights and international legal standards. Section 26(1) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone clearly stipulates: “Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly and association, that is to say, his right to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to any political party, trade unions or other economic, social or professional associations, national or international, for the protection of his interests.”

ILRAJ further pointed out that the actions of the police in barricading the venue and preventing SLBA members from convening constitute a serious infringement on these constitutional rights adding that the use of armed intimidation, rifles, and tear gas launchers against the members of the legal profession is wholly unacceptable and an egregious abuse of power.

As essential agents in the administration of justice, ILRAJ affirm that lawyers and bar associations are specifically protected under international law. Sierra Leone has obligations under various international and regional laws to protect the rights of lawyers and their organizations from political interference.

Excerpt from ILRAJ Press Release states “The United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990) mandates: Principle 16: Governments shall ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment, or improper interference. Principle 17: Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities. Principle 23: Lawyers, like other citizens, are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association, and assembly. Similar obligations are echoed under the International Bar Association (IBA) Standards for the Independence of the Legal Profession (1990): Standard 2: States shall ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment, or improper interference, and shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic, or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards, and ethics,”

ILRAJ calls upon the Government of Sierra Leone and its law enforcement agencies to: Fully respect the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and create awareness about these principles among the police and other state authorities. Refrain from shielding the police and other state agencies from accountability to break away from the pervasive culture of impunity in our country. Ensure that Sierra Leone does not devolve into a police state where constitutional rights are routinely violated