By By: Staff Writer
The political leader of the All Liberian Party and human rights lawyer, Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe, has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of Liberia to sentence social media talk show host Justin Opa Yeazehn, popularly known as Prophet Key, to six months imprisonment for criminal contempt.
The Court ordered Yeazehn’s incarceration at the Monrovia Central Prison, commonly known as South Beach, after finding that his public remarks directed at Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay and the judiciary constituted contempt and undermined the dignity of the Court.
Gongloe: Free Speech Has Limits
Reacting to the ruling, Gongloe said he had received numerous calls from media professionals both in Liberia and abroad, largely because of his long-standing record defending press freedom and his role in drafting the original bill that evolved into the Kamara-Kamara press freedom law.
Despite his strong advocacy for freedom of expression, Gongloe maintained that Yeazehn’s conduct crossed a legal boundary.
“The law is the law,” Gongloe said. “Prof. Key crossed the line. His speech was criminal because abusive language under our law is a crime, and the Supreme Court is the highest court of the land.”
He emphasized that even lower courts should not tolerate abusive language from any citizen or resident, noting that the Supreme Court acted appropriately to protect institutional respect.
“I applaud the Supreme Court’s opinion. The Court did extremely well to defend the sacredness of the judiciary,” he stated. “We can do everything in this country, but the court must remain supreme.”
While reaffirming his lifelong commitment to defending free speech, Gongloe clarified that such freedoms do not extend to insults or conduct that erodes public respect for national institutions.
“I defend free speech, and I will defend it for my life — but not abusive language,” he concluded.
Case Background
The matter arose from a February 4, 2026 citation ordering Yeazehn to appear before the Court to show cause why he should not be held in contempt. The justices cited repeated public remarks that allegedly subjected the judiciary to ridicule.
Liberia’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression under Article 15, but also allows limitations where speech infringes on the rights of others or threatens public order.
During the proceedings, Yeazehn initially appeared without private counsel, prompting the Court to appoint lawyers from the Public Defender’s Office, including Bestman Juah, to represent him.
Counsel acknowledged the impropriety of their client’s statements and pleaded for leniency, while Yeazehn himself admitted wrongdoing and expressed remorse.
“From today, I will never insult anyone again,” he told the Bench.
The ruling has since sparked nationwide debate on the balance between protected speech and contempt of court, with legal observers noting that the decision may shape future interpretations of responsible public commentary in Liberia.
