Beakanyang condemns in the strongest terms the brutal murder of Yusupha York, a 26 year old Gambian resident in Saint-Etienne, France on 26 May 2020 – an act which constitutes a blatant violation of his right to life, as guaranteed under Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
While we commend the efforts of the Saint-Etienne National Police in being proactive to apprehend the suspected perpetrators, we equally call for an unbiased investigation into the offence and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Furthermore, we call on The Gambia Government to condemn such atrocities and to ensure that the perpetrators of this barbaric crime face the full force of the law.
As stipulated in Article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone is entitled to the protection of their basic human rights regardless of where they are. We therefore urge the competent authorities to account for the violation of Yusupha York’s rights, especially his right to life.
Finally, we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family.