Somaliland: Hargeisa Regional Court Sentences Mr. Oldon to 2 years imprisonment

[Saalax]

Somaliland judiciary system is a joke. It is time the EU and

UK cut all funding and aid for the current admin once and

for all.

 

 

 

Published On: Sat, Apr 8th, 2017

 

Somaliland: Hargeisa Regional Court Sentences Mr. Oldon

to 2 years imprisonment

 

 

HARGEISA— Hargeisa regional court has sentenced today Hon.

Abdimalik Muse Oldon to two years imprisonment. Mr. Oldon has spent two months behind bars and was accused of throwing his weight behind the current Somali president, Mr. Farmajo.Mr. Oldon who is a reporter based in Buroa, Somaliland has also faced accusations that he defamed the current head of presidential palace spokesman.Mr. Oldon went to Mogadishu, the capital of war torn Somalia and covered on the election of Somalia president, Mr. Framajo following his defeat to the predecessor, Hasan Sheikh Mohamoud this year.

 

Hon. Abdimalik who spoke to the press after the judge announced the verdict said that the case of his imprisonment was politically motivated according to his opinion.He asserted that he will appeal against the verdict passed by the regional court in Hargeisa, Somaliland. The chairman of Hargeisa regional court, Dalmar who announced the verdict told that the court has showed a sense of mercy to Mr, Oldon and has dropped the fine.The chairman has further added that the court based on its decision on two accusations that was leveled against Oldon which he was found guilty. Media and rights organizations have voiced their concern over the apprehension of Mr. Oldon who was thrown in jail by Somaliland police.

 

http://www.somalilandinformer.com/somaliland/somaliland-hargeisa-regional-court-sentences-mr-oldon-to-2-years-imprisonment/

 

 

[Saalax]

Somalia:"flagrant violation of free expression" after sentencing of an independent journalist in Somaliland

 

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has strongly condemned a court verdict against independent journalist

Abdimalik Muse Oldon in Somaliland's capital Hargeisa who was today sentenced to two (2) years of prison.

 

 

 

Abdilmalik Musse Oldon

 

Arrested on 15 February upon arrival at Hargeisa Airport, Abdilmalik Musse Oldon was formally charged under Somalia’s old penal code of 1960, particularly under Article 212 on "ant-national activity of a citizen abroad”, article 328 on "publication or circulation of false, exaggerated or tendentious news capable of disturbing public order” and Article 220 on "offending the honour or prestige of the head of state”.

 

"This is a brutal, outrageous decision, which is flagrant violation of free expression. We condemn this harsh and unacceptable sentence which takes media repression in Somaliland to record levels. We shall support our colleagues in Somaliland and Abdilmalik Musse Oldon in their efforts to have this verdict overturned," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

 

Hargeisa’s Marodi Jeeh Regional Court heard on 4-5 April 2017 the arguments between prosecutor and attorneys defending Oldon. The main accusations leveled against Oldon included comments he allegedly made on the social media against Somaliland president and Oldon’s support to President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo. The sole evidence that Somaliland prosecutor presented to the court is a videotape in which Oldon sympathetically talks about President Farmaajo, without talking about Somaliland.

 

Chairman of Marodi Jeeh Regional Court, judge Ahmed Dalmar Ismail, this morning found Oldon guilty of breaching articles 212 and 328 of penal code, and discharged government’s allegation that the journalist had broken article 220. Judge Ismail sentenced Oldon to two years of jail.

 

NUSOJ today emphasized, once again, the flagrant abuse of Somalia’s old, vaguely worded, draconian penal code to silence journalists and curtail freedom of expression of citizens by political leaders. So far 19 journalists were charged under this penal code in the past 3 years.

 

"Clearly we see criminalization of freedom of expression by using this penal code and manipulating the justice system. This is both dangerous and absurd” added Osman.

 

 

http://garqaad.com/2017/04/08/somalia-nusoj-condemns-flagrant-violation-of-free-expression-after-sentencing-of-an-independent-journalist-in-somaliland/

[Saalax]

They will later cry like this lady when the white man cuts the aid.

 

 

[Saalax]

 

Sat Apr 8, 2017 | 7:00 AM EDT

 

Somalia's breakaway Somaliland sentences journalist to two years in jail

 

A court in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland has sentenced a reporter to two years in jail for what it said was endangering peace and security, a journalists' rights group said on Saturday.

 

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said that Abdimalik Muse Oldon was detained in February upon his return from the Somali capital and charged with "anti-national activity and violating the sovereignty and succession of Somaliland."

 

NUSOJ said Oldon had gone to Mogadishu to cover the presidential elections.

 

"This sentence is all about cowing independent media into submission to government's control and it is preposterous to even suggest these journalists represent a danger to peace and security," it said in a statement.

 

Somaliland government officials were not immediately available for comment.

 

Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognized. It has largely been spared the unrest and insurgency driven by al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab in the rest of Somalia.

 

In addition to being targeted by violence, journalists in Somalia are often targeted by officials and by al Shabaab for the content of their work.

 

In 2013, a court in Somaliland sentenced two journalists for what it said was the publication of false news.

 

(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Ros Russell)

 

 

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN17A0CJ

[maakhiri1]

Coldoon, a Somali Hero, should be freed ASAP.

 

This why the whole place, SL, behaves like North Korea.

[Suldaanka]

As expected empty bottles make the most noise. Although I have my own opinion on Abdimalik's situation, yet again, I have to place my 100% support behind the Court system in Somaliland. Without functioning Courts, we will end up much like Southern Somalia where anything goes.

 

Now that Abdimalik has received his sentence, he has two options, 1. to appeal the sentence to the Supreme Court 2. to ask for presidential pardon.

 

The background noise from folks like the ex-Mooryaan NUSOJ etc will not affect the outcome of any trail in Somaliland nor sway the decisions of the legal system. As usual, these same folks will turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses within their backyard and rather comment on things happening far away places where they have no presence. As the old Somali saying goes "Haajo nimaan ogayn indha ayu ka ridaa".

[Suldaanka]

@Maakhiri1

said:

Coldoon, a Somali Hero, should be freed ASAP.

 

This why the whole place, SL, behaves like North Korea.

 

Somaliland should be very strong and show no mercy on traitors. This includes anyone be it journalist, politician, civil servant, or civil society, who works against the common interests of the masses.

 

There are reasons why laws were passed against those individuals who engage those activities. And those individuals, like any criminal, understands if broken they shall face the music.

 

 

[Che -Guevara]

Reer Waqooyi waa qafiifeen, this is just silly. But here's a little bit of comedy.

 

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Qafiifid wey dhaafeen qaarkood, qacnimo waaye. Hadduu Adisababa ama Nayroobi uu ka soo warami lahaa, asagoo amaanaayo magaalooyinkaas, kuwaas xiray caleemo qooyan ee ku soo dhaweyn lahaayeen markuu ku noqdo.

 

Eebbe ayaa ugu baryaa inuu dhibka ka qaado Coldoon, gacan ka xaqdaran ayaa dulmineysee.

[Tallaabo]

The United States used to persecute communists during the cold war era. Likewise Somaliland has laws to stop those peddling discredited and dangerous ideas like union for the sake of its own national security.

[Saalax]

It is indeed getting beyond a joke and ridiclous. 4 girls have been

also arrested wearing clothes with the Somalia flag. What a

bunch of clowns.

 

 

Afar Gabdhood Oo Loo Xidhay inay ku Lebisteen Calanka Sooomaaliya

[Suldaanka]

@Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar

said:

Qafiifid wey dhaafeen qaarkood, qacnimo waaye. Hadduu Adisababa ama Nayroobi uu ka soo warami lahaa, asagoo amaanaayo magaalooyinkaas, kuwaas xiray caleemo qooyan ee ku soo dhaweyn lahaayeen markuu ku noqdo.

 

Eebbe ayaa ugu baryaa inuu dhibka ka qaado Coldoon, gacan ka xaqdaran ayaa dulmineysee.

 

xataa duqii MMA oo sariirtii bukaanka xamaantiisi ka soo qaatay.

 

Sida bahal/duurjoogta dhiigu ugu soo uru, ayaa mooda dadka qaar in meelshi ay isyidhaahdan waa opportunity sida bahalka ugu soo ururaan.

 

Awoowe, Coldoon dhawaan aya freedom la siinaya, labadda sano wa sidii arday xiisadiisi ku dhacay oo macalin laba dhengadood gacanta kaga dhuftay. Hadii saaqid noqdona ciqaabtu waa sii xumaanaysa.

 

Ha werwerin warbaan ku ogahay wiiga dabadiiye.

 

[Barwaaqo]

Coldoon waa wiilkayagii, cashar ayaana loo dhigayaa(yacni qodobka 23aad ee dastuurkayaga), markuu imtixaanka ku guulaystana waa la soo daynayaa. Xeerka aanu dhiganay; isagu naguma noolee annagaa ku nool sidaa darteed waa in aanu ilaalinaa oo xitaa Caldoon oo anniga iyo dadka reer Somaliland oo dhami taageeraan, kuna taageeraan shaqadda uu u hayo dadkiisa ee bina'adinimo (caawi kuwan); sharcigu waa inuu qabtaa -no one is above the law. Salaadiin u ka mid yahay Buur-madow iyo kuwo kale oo aanan hada xasuusnayn Mandheera ayey liinta ku soo cabeen.

 

Walaweyn, dee afkay idinkaga hadhay'ee, ka hadla Wariyayaashiina la dilo ,loo hanjabo, la afduubo iyo dhamaan silica dadkiinu ku jiro! Waxaad ka hadashaan wiilasha aan qaan gaadhin ee shalay Bosaaso lagu dilay ee iyagoon meleteri ahayn la yidhi maxkamad meleteri ayaa xukuntay! Xanuunka iyo jaahwareerka idin haya dartiis , tiina kama hadashaanee indhihiinu waxay eegaan Somaliland. 'Ileyn doqoni qiiq kama kacdee daamankay meermeerisaa'

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60rVmc58244