Fatou Jallow

Last updated

Fatou A. "Toufah" Jallow [1] (born April 19, 1996 in Soma [2] ) is a Gambian beauty queen. She became known in 2014 for her accusations of rape and sexual harassment against Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Life

Jallow belongs to the Fulbe ethnic group. [1] Her parents are Alpha Jallow and Awa Saho. [6] She attended Nusrat Senior Secondary School up through 12th grade. [1] [2]

In 2014, she won the title of Miss July 22 in the national beauty pageant organized by Gambian Dictator Yahya Jammeh. [1] [7] At this time she was 18 years old. [3]

In September 2014 she started a teacher training course at The Gambia College in Brikama. [8]

According to a story in Kibaroo News in June 2015, she went missing for several weeks after being invited to the State House in Banjul. In the period after the competition, Jammeh was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing her and offering her gifts. According to the report, she was brought to Jammeh several times against her will. He had publicly announced several times that he wanted to marry Jallow, a proposal she refused. [7]

As Jallow explained in 2019, in July 2015 [2] she fled over the border to Dakar (Senegal), where she turned to human rights organizations.[ citation needed ] On August 6, 2015, she received asylum in Canada and since then has lived in Toronto. [3] [9] [10] [5] [2] There she completed therapy and studied social work. Around 2019 she worked as a customer service representative for a telecommunications company and was involved in a women's refuge. [5]

Rape allegations

At the end of June 2019, she accused to the human rights organizations Human Rights Watch and TRIAL that Jammeh had raped her. Jallow's name was mentioned at her request in order to encourage other women to report on such experiences. [11] [9]

After winning the beauty competition on December 6, 2014, she said that she was invited to visit Jammeh several times in the following months. [12] According to her statement, she received 50,000 Dalasi, and later another 200,000 Dalasi from him. [12] [11]

Reactions

Jammeh himself did not comment on the allegations. Ousman Rambo Jatta, party official of the Jammeh-founded Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, called the allegations a lie, stating that Jammeh "is very respectable God-fearing and pious leader who has nothing but respect for our Gambian women." [4] A driver at the time also denied Jallow's allegations of rape. [13]

The Gambian Justice Minister and Attorney General, Abubacarr Tambadou, and Salieu Taal, President of the Gambia Bar Association (GBA), commended Jallow for her courage in breaking her silence, and encouraged other victims of rape to speak out, in the hope that they would provide the basis for more charges to be filed against Jammeh. [3] [14] Women's rights organization Female Lawyers Association Gambia (FLAG) joined them in this view. [15] Further accusations against high-ranking politicians were reported in the following days. [14] [16]

In September 2019, the APRC's interim leader, Fabakary Jatta, called the allegations a lie, saying that Jallow "should even be thankful to ex-president Jammeh for the monetary support", and denounced the allegations as attempts to tarnish Jammeh's image. [17] Jallow rejected this statement as unsubstantiated attention-seeking, and noted that she had not accused the APRC as a party, but Jammeh personally, and that the APRC should not speak for him. [18]

On October 31, 2019, Jallow testified before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission to come to terms with Jammeh's reign, and repeated and clarified her accusations. [2]

She has published, together with Kim Pattaway, a book Toufah, The Woman Who Inspired an African #MeToo Movement". [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yahya Jammeh</span> 2nd president of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017

Yahya Abdul-Aziz James Junkung Jammeh is a Gambian politician and former military officer, who served as President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017, as well as Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council from 1994 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Progressive Party (The Gambia)</span> Political party in the Gambia

The People's Progressive Party is a political party in the Gambia. It was the dominant ruling party of the House of Representatives and the presidency from 1962 to 1994. The president throughout this time period was Dawda Jawara. The People's Progressive Party lost power after the 1994 Gambian coup d'état, a military coup led by young, junior military officers. The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) then became the dominant party of the Gambia. The People's Progressive Party remains active, but lacking the same level of support it garnered in the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hassan Bubacar Jallow</span> Gambian politician and lawyer

Hassan Bubacar Jallow is a Gambian judge who has served as Chief Justice of the Gambia since February 2017. He was the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) from 2003 to 2016, and Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) from 2012 to 2016, both at the rank of United Nations Under Secretary-General. He served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General from 1984 to 1994 under President Dawda Jawara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatou Bensouda</span> Gambian lawyer and former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (2012–2021)

Fatou Bom Bensouda is a Gambian lawyer and former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who has served as the Gambian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom since 3 August 2022.

Amadou Scattred Janneh is a Gambian politician with Gambian and American dual citizenship. A former Minister of Information and Communication for the national government, he was sentenced to life in prison for treason after distributing T-shirts with the slogan "End to Dictatorship Now". After international protest from organizations including Amnesty International and an appeal by US activist Jesse Jackson, Janneh was pardoned and returned to the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gambia–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Gambia–North Korea relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Gambia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), known as North Korea in the Western World. Hong Son-phy is the accredited ambassador to Banjul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Gambian presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in The Gambia on 1 December 2016. In a surprise result, opposition candidate Adama Barrow defeated long-term incumbent Yahya Jammeh. The election marked the first change of presidency in The Gambia since a military coup in 1994, and the first transfer of power by popular election since independence from the United Kingdom in 1965.

Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie is a Gambian politician who served as Minister of Tourism and Culture from 2010 to 2014 and ambassador to Malaysia from 2014 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omar A. Jallow</span> Gambian politician (1946–2023)

Omar Amadou Jallow was a Gambian politician who was the Minister of Agriculture in President Adama Barrow's cabinet. Jallow was also the leader of the People's Progressive Party, which held two seats in the National Assembly at the time of his death.

Marie Saine-Firdaus is a Gambian lawyer and politician.

Fatoumata "Fatu" Camara is a television presenter and journalist from the West African state of The Gambia.

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is a truth commission in The Gambia to investigate the Yahya Jammeh era from 1994 to 2017. The process from the announcement of the commission to its launch lasted from 20 July 2017 to 15 October 2018. Its executive secretary is Baba Galleh Jallow, its lead counsel is Essa M. Faal, and the chairperson of the 11-strong commission is Lamin J. Sise.

Joseph Wowo is a Nigerian barrister who joined the Gambian judiciary in 2000 and became the chief justice of Gambia from 20 June 2013 until 19 July 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Gambian presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in the Gambia on 4 December 2021. The result was a victory for incumbent President Adama Barrow of the National People's Party, who received 53% of the vote, defeating five other candidates.

Ndey Tapha Sosseh is a Gambian journalist and unionist. In 2004, she became editor-in-chief of The Daily Observer, making her the first female editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper in the Gambia's history. From 2008 to 2011, she served as president of the Gambia Press Union.

Fatou Jagne Senghore also known as Fatou Jagne Senghor is a Gambian jurist, human rights advocate, women's rights and free expression activist. She is well known for her work in human rights in West Africa especially in The Gambia and Senegal She earned the nickname of "Senegambian Iron Lady" for her efforts defending human rights in The Gambia under the autocratic leadership of Yahya Jammeh.

Fatou Sanyang Kinteh also known as Fatou Kinteh is a Gambian politician and women's rights activist. She currently serves as the Gambian minister for women's affairs, children, and social welfare. She also serves as the national coordinator of The Gambia for Gender-Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation.

Amie Ndoungou Drammeh Bensouda is a Gambian lawyer and politician. She was the first female Solicitor General of the Gambia and served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice following the 1994 coup that brought Yahya Jammeh to power. Bensouda is a member of the London Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (CIArB) and a trained mediator. She was also two-term President of the Gambia Bar Association. She is the mother of the current mayor of KMC, Talib Ahmed Bensouda.

Capital punishment remains a legal penalty for multiple crimes in the Gambia. However, the country has taken recent steps towards abolishing the death penalty.

Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, also spelled Fatoumata, is the first wife of Gambian President Adama Barrow and the First Lady of the Gambia since 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Saja. "Who is Fatou Jallow? Meet the new Miss July 22nd". Archived from the original on 2019-06-30. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "FATOU TOUFAH JALLOW TRRC DAY 102 PT1 31.10.19". YouTube (in German). Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dionne Searcey, Jaime Yaya Barry (2019-06-26). "Gambian Minister Calls on All Women With Accusations Against Ex-President to Come Forward". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-06-30. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  4. 1 2 "Gambia: Appeal after rape claim against ex-president Jammeh". BBC News. 2019-06-26. Archived from the original on 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  5. 1 2 3 Dionne Searcey (2019-06-25). "A Beauty Queen Accuses Former Gambian President of Rape: 'I Literally Stumbled Out of There'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-06-30. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  6. ↑ "OPINION: Fatou Jallow's Rape Allegation On International Media Is A Fake Media Campaign To Seek Public Sympathy For Prosecution Of Former President Yaya Jammeh And Financial Exploitation Of TRRC". Freedom Newspaper. 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  7. 1 2 "2014 JULY 22ND BEAUTY QUEEN, MISS FATOU JALLOW, GONE MISSING, AFTER REJECTING PRESIDENT'S INAPPROPRIATE APPROACHES! – Kibaaro News". Archived from the original on 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  8. ↑ "FATOU TOUFAH JALLOW TRRC DAY 102 PT1 31.10.19". YouTube (in German). Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  9. 1 2 Schwarz, Birgit; Volkmann-Brandau, Marion (2019-06-26). "Gambia's Women Break Their Silence". Human Rights Watch . Archived from the original on 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  10. ↑ Louise Dewast (2019-06-26). "'I was raped by Gambia's ex-President Jammeh'". Archived from the original on 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  11. 1 2 Human Rights Watch (2019-06-26). "Gambia: Women Accuse Ex-President of Sexual Violence". Human Rights Watch . Archived from the original on 2019-06-30. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  12. 1 2 "Ex-Beauty Queen Accuses Former President Jammeh of Raping Her". Foroyaa Newspaper. 2019-10-31. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  13. ↑ Pa Nderry Mbai (2019-06-29). "FORMER STATE HOUSE DRIVER NAMED IN A RAPE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DICTATOR JAMMEH DEBUNKS FATOU JALLOW'S CLAIMS!". Freedom Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  14. 1 2 Pa Nderry Mbai (2019-07-02). "Toufah Jallow's Rape Case Exposes More Alleged 'Sexual Pedrators'". Freedom Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  15. ↑ "FLAG reacts to sex abuse allegations". Archived from the original on 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
  16. ↑ "Police to probe Melville Robertson rape allegation". 2019-07-02. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  17. ↑ "FTJ: Toufah should thank Jammeh for financial support - The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia". 2019-09-27. Archived from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  18. ↑ "Toufah Jallow: I didn't accuse APRC of rape - The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia". 2019-10-01. Archived from the original on 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  19. ↑ Toufah. ISBN   9781586423001.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.