Gambian Blind Magistrate Tests Court System Designed for Sighted Individuals

Magistrate Muhammed Krubally Arrives at Banjul Magistrates’ Court

Magistrate Muhammed Krubally arrives at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before each day’s proceedings begins. His clerk reviews the files, ensuring everything is in order. Krubally listens to questions and prepares for the cases ahead.

Krubally uses assistive technology, including JAWS screen reader software and AI-enabled smart glasses, to navigate his computer and access information independently. He also relies on his hearing and memory to build a picture of the courtroom through sound.

As the country’s first visually impaired magistrate, Krubally has presided over over 1,000 civil and criminal cases since joining the bench in 2016. The Gambia Organisation of the Visually Impaired (GOVI) identifies him as the country’s first person with a visual impairment to hold this position.

Krubally grew up in a village in the Central River Region, where he was the second of nine children. He wanted to become a lawyer from an early age and later became a magistrate to advocate for others, particularly those with disabilities.

Krubally faced challenges in his education due to limited resources and an inaccessible education system. Despite these obstacles, he persevered and pursued his ambition to become a lawyer and later a magistrate.

The Gambia’s Persons with Disabilities Act was passed in 2021, setting out principles including independence, non-discrimination, and accessibility. However, implementing these rights remains a challenge, according to the National Human Rights Commission.

Krubally also serves as president of the Gambia Federation of the Disabled, speaking at events to promote greater recognition of the rights and potential of people with disabilities.

Source: Al Jazeera