Somaliland: Waddani Youth Spokesperson Convicted Of Defamation & Incitement

[Deeq A.]

Somaliland: Waddani Youth Spokesperson Convicted Of Defamation & Incitement

Mohamed Sadik Abdillahi, “Dhame”, the youth spokesperson for Waddani, Somaliland’s main opposition party, has been found guilty of defamation and incitement to violence by the Marodi Jeh Regional Court in Hargeisa.

The trial lasted for just over a week, after the defendant had spent more than two months in remand. The charges stem from an alleged post on the social media website, Facebook.

Lawyers for the defendant had argued that, Mohamed Sadik Abdillahi, “Dhame”, was exercising his constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. The regional court disagreed and found the defendant guilty. The sentence is one of six months in prison, minus time served.

It is expected that the defendant will file an appeal against the verdict. There is also speculation, that the defendant may receive a presidential pardon.

Qarannews.com.

Qaran News