By: Foday N. Samura
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalist in a press release dated Friday 28th August, 2020 calls on all Sierra Leonean at home and abroad to use the social media responsibly. The president of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla stated it concerns about the proliferation of Videos, audios and voice note on social media which according to him has the potential to divide us as a nation and cause unrest in the country.
He also stated that SLAJ will at all-time stand to defend the Fundamental Human Right of all citizens to free speech as an essential element of our democracy,” Citizen Journalists”, Political enthusiasts and members of the public who have been abusing social media should know that this right is not absolute, he maintained.
He furthered that, “Freedom of speech is like a kitchen knife. When you take it out of the kitchen for other purposes like stabbing, then it becomes harmful to the victim and to yourself”, Said the president.
In other to get a peaceful Nation, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla calls on all media houses not to allow their platforms to be used as conduits for the dissemination of incendiary messages, fake news and disinformation. He also calls on all Journalists and other citizen not to share any such messages, if they receive them.
He also appeal to the leaderships of all political parties, political activists and citizens in general to condemn and desist from making and spreading expressions in every shape or from that promote hate and division among Sierra Leoneans.
“It’s not just the responsibility of the Government of Sierra Leone to maintain and promote law, order, peace and stability in the country. It’s equally the responsibility of all political parties, democratic institutions and citizens” added Nasralla. The Government must work with the leadership of all political parties and other stakeholders to look at the root causes of this dangerous trend and make genuine and honest efforts to address them collectively,” he concluded.
