By: Nyima Sillah
Gambian deportee from Germany Saikou Kanteh has accused the German police of subjecting him to brutal physical torture and forcefully fixing iron in his mouth in an apparent attempt to gag him.
Kanteh, a native of Basse in the Upper River Region (URR) of The Gambia, was among nearly 20 Gambians who were last week removed from the federal territory of Germany.
In an interview with this medium, the URR native said he worked in Germany for more than a decade and that he had been tax-compliant throughout.
At the time of the interview, Kanteh was still processing his forceful return to The Gambia and the manner, in which, it was carried out.
“I worked and paid my taxes in Germany for over a decade. Last week, I received a letter from the police toserve as a witness in a case about which I had no idea. I was supposed to go to work in the afternoon that day and I, therefore, decided to go to the station first. In the letter, they did not indicate the reason for my invitation to the station but I honored the invitation because I was never involved in any crime in Germany,” Kantehexplained.
According to him, upon arrival at the station, he realized that he was the only one invited there and to compound his astonishment, the police did not tell him the crime they said someone had committed.
“I was hurt by the failure of the police to inform me about the crime they said was committed by someone. They then insisted that I would not leave the station because it was the last day of my stay in Germany. I complied but I was hurt. I inquired about the reason for my detention because I didn’t commit any offense,” narrated Kanteh.
According to him, the police were infuriated by his query as to why they “were treating” black people like animals despite the same blood circulating in everybody’s veins as well as the hospitality usually extended to the whites whenever they visited The Gambia.
“Those words hurt them and consequently, they forcediron into my mouth and tortured me more. From that moment, my mouth started bleeding. I could not speak properly and I was denied access to my lawyer and my wife,” he stated.
Mr. Kanteh contended that the police would’ve given him an explanation for his detention if it was lawful.
“They didn’t give me any reason for inviting me. I received the letter on Saturday and went to Laufen Am Neckar station on Tuesday at 11 am and was held there till 6 pm. The police then drove me to Stuttgart, where I boarded a flight with over four escorts as if I were a criminal or had committed an offense in Germany. I was handcuffed and strapped,” the visibly emotionalKanteh explained.
He stated that the iron, which was stuffed into his mouth, remained there for three days, adding that he could neither eat nor sleep as a result of severe pain.
“The iron was removed on Friday at the Polyclinic of EFSTH in Banjul. It was hard to remove and my teeth are still in pain,” added Kanteh.
Kanteh’s brother, Alagie Kanteh, expressed his disappointment in the Gambia government for “failing to handle his brother’s case with the care it deserved”.
“Saikou’s issue is all over the social media but I was not contacted by a single person from the government to show concern over this matter. Saikou came penniless. I borrowed money to take care of all hismedical expenses because I could not watch him suffer. The government is still silent. I am sure they are aware of this issue but they remain mute,” he stated.
Alagi admitted that deportation is not a problem in itself but he expressed disappointment in the “inhumane” treatment meted out to his brother.
“Saikou was treated like an animal and his rights were violated. I was touched and hurt by the heavy-handedness of the German police and I want justice served immediately,” he stated.
The governments of The Gambia and Germany did not comment on the issue as we go to press.