News / Africa
NUSOJ Protests the Unjust Court Order Against Television Reporter
11 Jan 2012 at 00:35hrs | Views
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) protests the unjust court order against Royal Television reporter by Boorama court, followed by string of arrests of journalists in different towns in the regions controlled by Somaliland last week, worsening the already deteriorating press freedom in Somaliland.
The Court ordered Yuusuf Ali better "Indho-Qurux", who is the correspondent of the Royal Television in the town Boorama to stay in jail for 45 days on Tuesday 10 January, 2012 around 11:30 am local time. The court said that he will re-appear in court after 45 days, according to Mohamed Abdi Boosh of Royal Television reached by phone from Hargeysa, adding that there were no evidences or witnesses presented to the court.
According to Boosh, there has been negotiations for his release and were planning to travel to Boorama, before they heard the surprise and unjust sentence.
"We were planning to travel to Boorama today, but postponed when we heard the unjust sentence handed down to our colleague." Mohamed Abdi Boosh who works for the Royal Television told NUSOJ by phone from Hargeysa, "There were no evidences displayed at the court and it was a matter of minutes when the court released their sentence."
The police had requested 45 days the journalist to remain in jail untill the investigations against his complete are completed, which contravenes the Somaliland constitution which allows three weeks and the Somaliland media law and was immediately transfered to Boorama Central Jail, according to journalists.
Ali was arrested on Sunday January 8, 2012 and It is not yet clear the reasons behind his arrest. However, journalists believe Ali's arrest is related to an article he wrote about alleged corruption on regional projects in Awdal region last week.
"We protest the unjust court order handed down to our colleague and call for the Somaliland authorities to reverse their decision and give the journalist's freedom back." Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "This contravenes the Somaliland Justice system and call for the Somaliland authorities to respect the freedom of expression and the press and regulations set for it."
This follows string of other attacks against journalists this week in Somaliland.
On January 9. 2011. Abdiqani Hassan Farah Gadari, a universal TV reporter in Laas-Aanod was detained on by the Somaliland Police.
Gadari informed NUSOJ before he was arrested that his arrest was ordered by the Somaliland minister of information through the Mayor of the Las-Anod town.
It is not yet clear the motive behind his arrest and remains in custody.
On January 4, 2012, Somaliland police arrested Abdirahman Ali Duale, Horn Cable reporter, Abdiaqani Hassan Farah Gadari and Barkhad Joon, Somaliland National TV and they were released after 8 hours in detention in the Las-Anod central police station
The Court ordered Yuusuf Ali better "Indho-Qurux", who is the correspondent of the Royal Television in the town Boorama to stay in jail for 45 days on Tuesday 10 January, 2012 around 11:30 am local time. The court said that he will re-appear in court after 45 days, according to Mohamed Abdi Boosh of Royal Television reached by phone from Hargeysa, adding that there were no evidences or witnesses presented to the court.
According to Boosh, there has been negotiations for his release and were planning to travel to Boorama, before they heard the surprise and unjust sentence.
"We were planning to travel to Boorama today, but postponed when we heard the unjust sentence handed down to our colleague." Mohamed Abdi Boosh who works for the Royal Television told NUSOJ by phone from Hargeysa, "There were no evidences displayed at the court and it was a matter of minutes when the court released their sentence."
The police had requested 45 days the journalist to remain in jail untill the investigations against his complete are completed, which contravenes the Somaliland constitution which allows three weeks and the Somaliland media law and was immediately transfered to Boorama Central Jail, according to journalists.
Ali was arrested on Sunday January 8, 2012 and It is not yet clear the reasons behind his arrest. However, journalists believe Ali's arrest is related to an article he wrote about alleged corruption on regional projects in Awdal region last week.
"We protest the unjust court order handed down to our colleague and call for the Somaliland authorities to reverse their decision and give the journalist's freedom back." Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "This contravenes the Somaliland Justice system and call for the Somaliland authorities to respect the freedom of expression and the press and regulations set for it."
This follows string of other attacks against journalists this week in Somaliland.
On January 9. 2011. Abdiqani Hassan Farah Gadari, a universal TV reporter in Laas-Aanod was detained on by the Somaliland Police.
Gadari informed NUSOJ before he was arrested that his arrest was ordered by the Somaliland minister of information through the Mayor of the Las-Anod town.
It is not yet clear the motive behind his arrest and remains in custody.
On January 4, 2012, Somaliland police arrested Abdirahman Ali Duale, Horn Cable reporter, Abdiaqani Hassan Farah Gadari and Barkhad Joon, Somaliland National TV and they were released after 8 hours in detention in the Las-Anod central police station
Source - appablog.wordpress.com
