Jesse ##l appeals directly to Gambia 's president for the pardon . President Yahya Jammeh in addition agrees to halt death row executions . That left 38 , whose lives have been spared after the Gambian president 's moratorium on executions was announced during Jackson 's visit . Opposition groups say the sentences are handed down to repress political opposition . The defendants were not on death row and had not received death sentences .
Jesse ##l appeals directly to Gambia 's president for the pardon . President Yahya Jammeh in addition agrees to halt death row executions . Opposition groups say the sentences are handed down to repress political opposition . The defendants were not on death row and had not received death sentences .