By Monrovia, Liberia- Women of Liberia under the banner Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), and the Women Secretariat’s of Liberia are shocked about the blatant and barbaric violation of the rights to life and the dignity of Madam Deddeh Simmons who was on November 13 2023, flogged, naked, ganged raped and peppered in her vagina by a group of gangsters mostly men in the the commercial hub of Red light.
The women petition statement described more dreadful is the appalling attitude of on lookers who were both men and women and especially within proximity of the Police, who watched, applauded, photographed, and videotaped the barbaric act of being committed against survival Simmons.
The Liberian Women seeking justice petition statement further that this gang of hoodlums masquerading as motor bike riders called the survival a bike rogue (thief) while subjecting her to extreme physical, and psychological violence.
The women of Liberia added that they are enraged by the fact that gangs of hoodlums continue to arrogate themselves the functions of law enforcement officers thus taking the law into their hands causing harm to innocent and unsuspecting individuals in the country, thereby creating a state of insecurity.
They however calling on the Ministry of Justice to remain seized of this matter and ensure that all perpetrators captured in the infamous video are arrested, charged and prosecuted in keeping with law.
They are at the same time used the occasion to demand the authorities of the Ministry of Justice to immediately
Identify stores within the vicinity of where the survival sought refuge and was intentionally refused and rejected in the face of peril to her life, that the store be ordered closed within the confines of the law pending investigation.
The also want the justice authority Identify each bystander that facilitated the crime as seen in the infamous video to be charged, investigated and prosecuted in keeping with the law of Liberia.
They indicated that such will preserve the dignity of Deddeh Simmons and all women of Liberia, that the Government though the appropriate statutory agency immediately take down the video from all social media platforms and prosecute those found circulating same.
They want the Ministry of Justice be more proactive in responding to issues of violence against women in the country as a matter of priority and utmost urgency.
The cross section of women believe that investigating and jailing the perpetrators is the best deterrent than condenmonation for would be violators.
For his part receiving the petition Cllr. Frank Musa Dean Jr, commended the women for the peaceful nature on which they exercise their right to assemble and promised the Justice Minister immediate intervention.
He affirmed the government commitment in ensuring perpetrators are brought under the jurisdiction of the court and strongly condemned the inhuman act melted against the survival.
The Liberia’s Justice Minister used the medium to called on the women and public to remain calm and allow the law take it course.
By: Domingo Dargbeh
