{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Ius Stella","provider_url":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr","author_name":"Jessica","author_url":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/author\/wpusername7119\/","title":"Wrong place, wrong time: The story of G\u00e9d\u00e9on - Ius Stella","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"EzRkIL76V2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/story-gedeon\/\">Au mauvais endroit au mauvais moment : L\u2019histoire de G\u00e9d\u00e9on<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/fr\/story-gedeon\/embed\/#?secret=EzRkIL76V2\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"\u00ab\u00a0Wrong place, wrong time: The story of G\u00e9d\u00e9on\u00a0\u00bb &#8212; Ius Stella\" data-secret=\"EzRkIL76V2\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n<\/script>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/ius-stella.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-20-at-14.48.18-e1750448527219.jpeg","thumbnail_width":1080,"thumbnail_height":810,"description":"On January 1st, 2020, as the city of Kinshasa quietly welcomed the new year, G\u00e9d\u00e9on\u2019s life changed forever. He was just 17 at the time. Orphaned at a young age, the youngest of six siblings, he is a construction worker on a site in the Gombe commune to make ends meet. That evening, around 8 p.m., he was walking home from work \u2014 tired, but relieved to have finished his shift. He didn\u2019t know it yet, but he wouldn\u2019t make it home that night. Just a few steps from his house, he came across a young man being chased by an angry crowd. The boy was caught and thrown to the ground. G\u00e9d\u00e9on, who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, was arrested too. Without understanding why, he was beaten and taken to the police station. The next day, the victim of the assault \u2014 a military officer \u2014 came to the station. He clearly identified the man who had attacked him and confirmed that G\u00e9d\u00e9on was not present during the incident, which had taken place the previous night on the terrace of a restaurant. Still, both young men were transferred to the military prosecutor\u2019s office for questioning. A few days later, the real perpetrator\u2019s parents paid the military officer $300 in compensation and an additional $100 to secure their son\u2019s release. G\u00e9d\u00e9on had no one. No parents. No money. No one to speak on his behalf. On January 7th, he was transferred to Ndolo military prison. A few weeks later, on February 2nd, he was moved to Makala Prison. He would remain there for over two years, without trial, without an arrest warrant, and without ever seeing a judge. Our intervention In July 2021, following our intervention with the Kinkole Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office, a magistrate finally visited Makala Prison. There, he uncovered the shocking reality of G\u00e9d\u00e9on\u2019s situation: a completely unlawful detention, prolonged in total disregard of due process. On September 22nd, 2021, G\u00e9d\u00e9on was summoned to appear before the Kinshasa\/Gombe High Court. He was charged with assault and battery with extortion \u2014 a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was asked to appear voluntarily, without legal representation. He refused. He knew he deserved a proper defense. After several delays, our lawyers were finally granted access to the case file and able to defend him in court. On December 22nd, 2021, the case enters in deliberation.On March 22nd, 2022, the verdict was announced: G\u00e9d\u00e9on is acquitted. He walked out of Makala Prison on April 12th, 2022. One story among thousands G\u00e9d\u00e9on is free now.But he will never forget those two stolen years \u2014 years filled with fear, humiliation, and abandonment. His story is just one among thousands of young Congolese who are arbitrarily arrested, denied legal defense, and left to languish in prison without trial. This is why we fight \u2014 every single day.So that no Congolese citizen is forgotten behind bars.And so that no one is ever stripped of their dignity. Support our work Help us provide legal aid, psychosocial support, and a path to dignity for those wrongfully imprisoned. Join us today"}