Senegalese musician Amy Collé Dieng has been denied bail and committed to custody pending her trial for insulting President Macky Sall.
Senegalese authorities on Tuesday also slapped charges of spreading false news on the popular singer.
The High Court in the French speaking Western African nation’s capital, Dakar remanded Dieng, who is reportedly pregnant pending her trial.
Her lawyer, Cire Cledor Ly accused authorities of arbitrarily detaining Dieng since the offenses are bailable. Ms. Ly demanded her statutory release.
Dieng faces up to six months to two years of allegedly insulting Mr. Sall and one to three year for purportedly spreading false news.
Dieng was arrested by the authorities after a recording of her speaking against Mr. Sall and his administration went viral.
Activists said she has not committed any crime and demanded her release for exercising her freedom of expression.
Senegalese authorities argued she had called Mr. Sall a jester and other names, thereby breaking the law and warranting her arrest.
Several people had been arrested in the past for insulting Mr. Sall and charges were dropped.
Senegal is one of Africa’s strongest democracies where human rights are respect but the sudden crackdown is making rights groups frown on the regime.
