Somaliland Lawyers Association condemns the arrest of lawyer Abdirisaq Ismail Hassan.

[Deeq A.]

Press statement

Somaliland Lawyers Association (SOLLA) strongly condemns the arrest of lawyer Abdirisaq Ismail Hassan who was brought before a military court. Abdirisaq, who is a member of the Somaliland Lawyers Association, arrested on 17th February 2018,was brought before a military court which remanded him into custody.

The arrest of Abdirisaq is clearly contrary to article 20(2) of the Advocates Act (Law No.30/2004) which gives the lawyers immunity from arrests unless they are caught in the act of committing a crime or the immunity is deprived by the Lawyers Licensing Commission. None of these two conditions were met in this case.

As stated in article 104 of the Constitution of Somaliland, the military courts have no jurisdiction over a civilian person. The Association condemns bringing a lawyer before a military court which is a clear violation of the constitution and the democratic system of Somaliland.

The Association calls on the government of Somaliland to immediately release Abdirisaq who is licensed lawyer and to stop the military court in interfering matters involved civilian people or to hear a case against a civilian person.

The Association is very concerned about recent detentions of journalists and other people who have been arrested in Somaliland for freedom of expression. Their arrests violate article 32(1) of the constitution of Somaliland which guarantees freedom of expression and prohibits suppression of journalists and other people for the expression of their opinion.

The Association calls on the government to release all the people arrested for expression their opinion and to protect the constitution and democracy of the country.

 

Jamaal Huseen Ahmed (Mandeela).

The Secretary General of Somaliland Lawyers Association (Solla).