State House, Banjul, 26th June 2026: His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, has today signed a Proclamation of Pardon granting a free pardon to one hundred and five (105) convicted persons held in the prisons of The Gambia, in commemoration of Yawm al-Ashura.

The President issued the Proclamation in exercise of the prerogative of mercy vested in him under section 82(1)(a) of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, following due consultation with the Constitutional Committee established under section 82(2) of the Constitution. The President personally considered the individual circumstances of each of the one hundred and five beneficiaries and was satisfied that those circumstances warranted the grant of a free and unconditional pardon.

The pardon beneficiaries comprise one hundred and three (103) males and two (2) females, including Gambians and other nationals who met the assessment and recommendation criteria of the Constitutional Committee.

President Barrow's decision to mark Yawm al-Ashura with this act of clemency reflects his commitment to the values of mercy, compassion, and restorative justice that are central to the occasion.

The Office of the President extends its sincere wishes to all beneficiaries and their families and calls upon them to seize this opportunity to reintegrate fully and productively into their respective communities.