Ten years for a text? Demand freedom for my brother, Ivo

	Demand Cameroon’s president free my brother, prisoner of conscience Fomusoh Ivo Feh.
	Take Action   Ivo forwarded a joke to his friends. Then, the Cameroonian military arrested, tried and convicted him and his friends of fomenting rebellion. Now, instead of being in school, he will spend years of his life in prison for a simple joke. Defend the right to free expression. Urge Cameroon's President to ensure that all charges against Fomusoh Ivo Feh and his friends are dropped.     Dear friends, Two years ago, my brother Fomusoh Ivo Feh was a young man just about to start university. He knew how hard it was to find a job in our country, Cameroon, without a degree. But a tough job market wasn't the only struggle facing our country. The armed group Boko Haram was carrying out attacks in Cameroon, causing the government to enact a fierce crackdown on alleged sympathizers. One day Ivo's friend texted him something that sounded like a job advertisement, but was clearly a joke: "Boko Haram recruits young people from 14 years old and above. Conditions for recruitment: four subjects at GCE, including religion." Then Ivo shared the joke with his friend. Who shared it with his friend. Who had his phone taken by a teacher. Who called the police. All three students were arrested. They are prisoners of conscience. Please join Amnesty International in calling on the president of Cameroon to immediately and unconditionally release my brother Ivo and his friends. Ivo's sarcastic text was interpreted as a recruitment message. He and his friends were sentenced to 10 years in prison for "non-denunciation of terrorist acts." There is no doubt that Boko Haram terrifies us. Over 170,000 people in Cameroon have fled their homes, and 65,000 people from Nigeria have sought refuge here as well. But locking up innocent people like my brother and keeping them in dangerous conditions is wrong. It is bad enough that we fear Boko Haram. We should not have to fear those who swear to protect us as well. Ivo and his friends have broken no laws. Please join me and Amnesty in defending his right to free speech, and speaking up for their immediate release from prison. Boko Haram must be stopped, but not at the price of personal freedom. The president of Cameroon must free all prisoners of conscience, including my brother and his friends. Thank you for defending human rights for my brother and the people of Cameroon. Yours truly, Eric Feh
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