The arrest of Hawa Hunt, a social media influencer, over comments she made about Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, and first lady, Fatima Maada Bio, has sparked growing concerns about her physical and mental health as she remains imprisoned for over a month.
Hunt, a dual Canadian and Sierra Leonean citizen, was arrested on December 22, 2023, during a live appearance on the reality TV show House of Stars. The arrest stems from comments Hunt made in May 2023 in a 25-minute video posted on social media, in which she criticized the president and first lady. Hunt, 42, who has over 100,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, now faces two charges under the Cybersecurity and Crime Act of 2021 for allegedly transmitting “insulting messages” that incited public disorder and damaged the reputations of the president and his wife.
Since her arrest, multiple requests for bail have been denied. On December 28, Hunt appeared in a video apologizing to the president and first lady, claiming she was being treated well and that the police had acted professionally. However, her daughter, Alicia Hunt, and human rights organizations believe the apology was coerced and suspect that Hunt is enduring mistreatment while imprisoned at Pademba Road prison in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital.
Alicia, who lives in Calgary, Canada, shared that during their conversations, her mother described the harsh conditions in prison, including infestations of bedbugs and mosquitoes. She also reported being given meager food—a slice of buttered bread in the morning and a small portion of rice with fish in the evening. Alicia explained that her mother mentioned the food made everyone sick, with many prisoners preferring to starve than eat the meals provided.
In one phone call, Alicia asked her mother if she was being abused, to which Hunt reportedly replied, “Oh yeah, we are regularly hit in here, but that’s just Africa, that’s how they do things.” Alicia was deeply troubled by this response, stating, “There should be no reason why they are laying hands on my mother or anyone.”
Alicia believes her mother’s arrest was politically motivated. She pointed out that Hunt and Fatima Maada Bio went to school together and had interacted online before. Alicia suspects that the authorities saw an opportunity to arrest her mother live on a nationally known show to send a message and instill fear in others who might criticize the government.
Amnesty International has called for Hunt’s immediate release and for assurances of a fair trial. The organization has raised concerns about the law under which Hunt is being prosecuted, with several instances previously reported where the law was used to suppress freedom of expression.
As pressure mounts for her release, Hawa Hunt’s case highlights ongoing concerns about the state of free speech and political dissent in Sierra Leone.
