Gambian imam wins African human rights award

An outspoken Gambian Muslim cleric, who was detained for more than five months after criticising the execution of nine prisoners last year, has won the first-ever pan-African human rights defenders award. Imam Baba Leigh was honoured for his outstanding fight against harmful traditional practices, such as early marriage and female genital mutilation, and his courage in speaking truth to power in a country where dissent carries a high cost.