The president of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) has expressed strong condemnation towards the prevalent issue of mob justice across the country, highlighting the negative consequences and dangers associated with such actions.
She emphasized that mob justice undermines the rule of law and hampers efforts to create a just and fair society, noting that such acts result in the denial of due process, often leading to innocent individuals becoming victims of violence and injustice.
Attorney Philomena Williams further encouraged citizens to promote a culture of respect for the legal system and discourage the use of force to settle disputes, calling upon the government, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations to work together to address the root causes of mob justice.
She spoke over the weekend, during a capacity building training for local government and community leaders organized by the AFELL, with support from the Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY).
The workshop is intended to train local government and community leaders on how to prevent and reduce Gender based violence (GBV), with a vision that prevention begins at the community and local leaders’ level.
It also aims to enable participants identify abuse and violence through a community-based approach, as it will focus on how to prevent domestic violence and all forms of violence, as well as focus on their role as first responders to ensure survivors’ safety.
Atty. Williams maintained, “At this workshop, you must also consider preventing one serious and concerning form of violence that is generic to the community that affects women. A form of GBV-physical violence, termed Mob Justice.”
“This is a serious societal problem, and when this happens, it lacks proper investigation and evidence. Black’s Law Dictionary defines justice as “protecting rights and punishing wrongs using fairness”. It is clearly not “justice” because it lacks the basic principles and elements of “Due Process of Law”, under the caption, Fundamental Rights, Chapter 111, 20 (a) of the Constitution of Liberia,” she noted.
According to her, it is sad when it is argued that people are frustrated with the Justice system, and thereby resolve to exercise mob justice, and asserted, “Moreover, it is equally disheartening for community members to claim lack of confidence in law enforcement officers, hence encouraging mob justice.”
“So, as Government and Communities leaders, it is your abiding duty and responsibility to promote true justice and discourage mob justice, because victims/survivors suffer many times based on false accusations,” she warned.
Commenting on the recent incident involving a Canadian-based Liberian woman, Deddeh Simmonds, who was severely flogged by some motorcyclists recently in Paynesville, she said, “During today’s sitting, we will use microscope justice using the case of a mother, Deddeh Simmonds, who was stripped naked, severely beaten, and sexually assaulted by mob men, under the defense of mistaken identity.”
“We had by-standers, who are community members, watching without stepping in to help. This is barbaric, cruel, and a vicious act of violence. It is dangerous to take matters into your own hands because it leads to a cycle of revenge and retaliation.
We cannot claim lack of confidence in law enforcement officers or argue that the State has failed to provide us security and resolve to use mob justice as a policing mechanism. You must strengthen the rule of law at the community level,” she intoned.
Atty. Williams furthered, “We trust that you as local government and community leaders will impact the people you lead to conduct themselves in straight adherence to the rule of law.”
She indicated, “AFELL is determined to ensure that Deddeh Simmonds receives justice, and accordingly, the Justice Minister, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean has asked AFELL to join the State to ensure that the perpetrators are accountable for their action. We are acting accordingly.”
“Moreover, whether the police are slow to act or we feel that the State has denied us security, let us prevent all forms of violence, especially mob violence, and adhere to the rule of law. Let us say no to all forms of violence.
Finally, it is our fervent hope that the knowledge you will acquire from this capacity building workshop, you will transfer to other local and community leaders in order to be active participants and not by-standers in preventing and reducing GBV.”
