Editor Arrested Over Human Rights Reporting in Somaliland

[NGONGE]

press release

 

 

Source: National Union of Somali Journalists

 

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the arrest of an editor of a privately-owned newspaper in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

 

Mohamud Abdi Jama, aka Huuto, the editor-in-chief of Waaheen newspaper, was arrested on 13 December 2012 at the Central Investigations Department (CID) after he responded to a summons.

 

Jama was detained after officials from the Somaliland presidency reportedly brought an arrest warrant issued by the Hargeisa Regional Court to the CID headquarters. He was informed by CID commander Mohamed Muse Abraar that he was under arrest.

 

The CID has said Jama was accused of reporting on an unsubstantiated allegation made at a press conference held by human rights defenders regarding human rights violations in Somaliland. The CID further stated that Waaheen newspaper specifically cited in its human rights report that the Somaliland president's son in-law is collecting hundreds of thousands of US dollars from Somaliland Television, a television network controlled and managed by the Somaliland government.

 

Officers at the CID informed Jama that he has to provide evidence of the allegations against the Somaliland president's son in-law. NUSOJ was, however, informed that the allegations were made by the chair of the Somaliland Human Rights Network, Suleyman Huquq.

 

Jama was scheduled to appear before a Hargeisa regional court to face charges of publishing unsubstantiated allegations.

 

NUSOJ fears that the problems with publishing and distributing newspapers, arrests of journalists and defamation legal actions against editors are part of a calculated campaign to silence the print media in Somaliland.

 

"We are concerned about the arrest of Mohamud Abdi Jama and call on the authorities to release him immediately and put an end to the harassment of journalists" said Abdirisak Omar Ismail, NUSOJ's Supreme Council president, who was visiting Hargeisa.

 

 

http://allafrica.com/stories/201212201069.html

[Jacpher]

Does SL court system recognize badmouthing Siilaayo's son in-law as a crime against the state? Saying Siilaayo gotta hit the treadmill get you locked up for good.

[Kool_Kat]

Only in Somalia, could one be arrested and charged for bad-mouthing the son-in-law of the president! Toloow Donald Trump maxaa lagu sameylahaa?

[Qaranki]

There's a difference between badmouthing and making an allegation. Somali 'journalists' think you say can whatever you want and if you are called on it get NUSOJ to release a statement on your behalf.

[N.O.R.F]

Any link to the journalist's article?

[Homunculus]

Qaranki;900734 wrote:

There's a difference between badmouthing and making an allegation. Somali 'journalists' think you say can whatever you want and if you are called on it get NUSOJ to release a statement on your behalf.

I thought there was a court system in Somaliland. If he made unsubstantiated allegations then the aggrieved should file a defamation suit or is that too advanced for a so called democracy (C'mon man, you live in London) .

[Tillamook]

I believe just because one calls himself a journalist does not give one the right to defame the character of an outstanding Somali citizen. These journalists must be taught a proper lesson in taste and decency!

[Jacaylbaro]

The court ordered the arrest after he failed to provide evidence ..... it is not about the son-in-law, it is about the story that he gets bags full of money from the Presidency and taking it somewhere.

[Mustafe]

Jb is abosolutely right. Now untill he can bring forth some evidence that his story is true, I'm afraid this man will stay in prison and deservedly so. I'm sick and tired of Somali journalists and their nonsense. In fact I'm not sure if they can be called journalists at all. They are mostly unqualified, corrupt, and probably make up sensational stories just so they can get their daily qaad fix.

[AfricaOwn]

^^^ Of course the editor arrested is about Sillanyo's son in-law. Just the other day I posted the attack on Abaarso Tech by the media for using false and sensational unsubstantiated claims...school parents complained about this, and what has been done? Nothing. This is a good time for that editor to pull the sub-clan card. The government can not arrest some editors and let others pass for doing the same thing.