Mogadishu, Somalia – National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes Ahlu Sunna waljama release of the two journalists arrested in the Somalia’s central town of Dhusomareb two days ago were illegally sentenced to three months in jail by the Sufi militia run local court. They were submitted to the central prison in the town but later released with the help of The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on Thursday.

But after much contact with the Sufi Ahlu-Suna rulers in Dhusomareb, the NUSOJ officials succeeded in convincing the court judge that the charges against the journalists were baseless. They were released on Wednesday at 06:00 PM local time.

The journalists were arrested with false charges accusing them of a news coverage describing the Ahlu-Suna fighters as clan based militia bandits, but the case lacked any evidence.

The chairman of Ahlu-Suna Sheik Ibrahim Sheik Hassan Guureeye told NUSOJ that he will intervene in the case and correct the faults within the administration. Ibrahim has apologized over the journalists’ arrests and pledged for NUSOJ that this won’t happen. He also stated that those who were behind it will be brought before justice.

The man behind the reporters’ arrests – the chairman of the security board in Dhusomareb town -Farhan Sheik Ali has himself given an excuse over this order stating it was a mistake which became a misunderstanding.

Journalist Abdirahman Moalim Ahmed described their arrest as a violation of their freedom. They were beaten and tortured to confess to crimes that did not exist or with which they were not involved.

Militias loyal to the local Sufi militias, Ahlu Suna Wal-Jama raided the offices of the Radio Voice of Central Dhusamareb (Idaacadda Codka Bartamaha Dhusamareb) based in Dhusamareb on Tuesday morning around 6:20am local time, where they have seriously beaten and arrested Bashir Mohamed Salad Aka Bashir Sanka. Sanka contributes to both Dalsan Radio, a privately owned independent radio station based in Mogadishu, and Idacada Codka Bartamaha, an independent radio station based Dhusamareb. Abdi Jamal Moalim Ahmed, who is the correspondent of Radio Bar-Kulan, a UN Funded radio, was also beaten.

The Shabab, which is affiliated to Al-Qaeda, looted the Radio equipment twice after raiding the town and briefly taking it over. There have been similar fears within the residents after the Ahlu Sunna Waljama militias supported by the Ethiopian troops abandoned the town of Elbur, a strategic town in central Somalia this weekend.

On 5th June, 2012, The Deputy Security Chief of the town’s Security Committee, Mr. Nor Elmi Hoosagale threatened the journalists after the town’s people evacuated the town.

On June 8, 2012 Two unknown assailants armed with pistols shot Mohamed Noor Mohamed better known as Mohamed Sharif – reporter for the Bar-Kulan Radio – twice below the heart which penetrated the back and the stomach. The shooting occurred on Friday evening June 8, 2012 around 7:30pm local time near Horn Cable Television office in Hamarjajab neighborhood as he was returning from work. The attackers fled the area immediately, according to witnesses.

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Mogadishu, Somalia – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is alarmed by the journalist slightly wounded by a stray bullet in Mogadishu on Tuesday evening 24 April at around 6: 30PM local time, while the union condemns the police beat up of a journalist in Mogadishu on 23 April, 2012.

The editor of the privately owned SIMBA radio, Abdiasis Mohamed Diiriye was hit by a stray bullet on the left leg below the knee and penetrated the muscle on Tuesday evening 24 April, 2012 around 6:30pm local time at the Bakaro market.

The incident happened shortly after he left the radio station heading his home, following a firefight in that neighborhood, according to Abdiasis Mohamed Diiriye who spoke with NUSOJ over the phone.

“I am in good health situation and currently staying at my home.”

Abdiasis Mohamed Diiriye told NUSOJ, “It is just a slight wound and I came home on my feet.”

In a separate incident, a policeman beat up Mohamed Abdiwahab Nor known as (Abuja), Reporter for the privately Sahan Radio on Monday 23 April, 2012.

The incident happened when the journalist tried to enter a cafeteria at the Ministry of Women affairs – where journalists always gather and chat – amid the Anniversary of the Somali Military Day was taking place in the city and the security of the city was highly tightened.

“The policeman who was keeping guard at the area stopped me along with other journalists, I showed my Identity Card, but did not let us go, while he let other journalists enter the cafeteria.” Mohamed Abdiwahab Nor told NUSOJ, “He was singling us from other journalists, I don’t know the reason.” He added.

“When I and my colleague journalist Ismail Haghi Omar left, he hit me at the back with back of his gun, I fell to the ground and he stood with his boot over my neck squeezing me on the ground, you see how my face has swollen.” Mr. Nor added.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemned the act and called for the Somalia Police Chief to take administrative measures against police personnel found such offenses to ensure that the journalists are respected and are allowed to carry out their duties.

“We acknowledge the extensive work the police are doing in restoring the security in Mogadishu, but it unfortunate we are getting troubles from the police and call for its immediate end.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “I take this opportunity to call for investigations into the murder cases against the journalists, which none of the killers has been brought to court yet.”

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The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has expressed great shock and outrage over the murder of young radio journalist in Galkayo, Mudug region.

Ali Ahmed Abdi, 26, was shot dead by unknown hooded gunmen while walking in Is-Raac neighborhood of northern Galkayo around Hotel Guure. He was a reporter for Radio Galkayo until recently.

“This is an outrageous and brazen act of cruelty committed against a young journalist and his killers must not be held above the law,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

Ali Ahmed Abdi was a member of NUSOJ northeastern branch and has been campaigning for seeking justice for victim journalists after his colleague Horriyo Abdulkadir of Radio Galkayo was fatally wounded in the same town.

“It is very urgent that those who care Somalia and its journalism community to send a clear message that those who murder, threaten or harm Somali journalists, no matter if they are politicians or rogue elements, that they will be brought to justice and are not immune from prosecution,” said Osman.

“It is very agonizing period that we have lost a colleague in every single month of this a year. We repeat that targeting Somali journalists for carrying out their professional duties must be ended and all Somali journalists must be able to work in safe conditions and not fear reprisal,” added Osman.

This death brings the total number of Somali journalists killed in this year to three as Abdi sadly becomes 30th journalist murdered in Somalia since 2007. On 28 February, Abukar Hassan Mohamoud Kadaf, Director of Somaliweyn Radio, was murdered at his home in Mogadishu.

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Reporters Without Borders is stunned to learn that Abukar Hassan Mohamoud, the manager of Mogadishu-based radio Somaliweyn, was shot dead on February 28 outside his home in the capital’s Aargada district by two men armed with pistols.

The press freedom organization condemns his cold-blooded murder, which joins a long list of crimes of violence against journalists in Somalia, and reiterates its call to the international community to do everything possible to ensure that these killings do not go unpunished.

“We offer our most since condolences to Mohamoud’s family, colleagues and friends,” Reporters Without Borders said. “This murder is the latest example of the extraordinary violence to which journalists are exposed in Somalia. Indifference to the fate of Somali journalists must stop. We reiterate our call for an independent international commission of enquiry into crimes against journalists in this country.”

Nicknamed Kadaf, Mohamoud was a long-standing member of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), a Reporters Without Borders partner organization. He had participated in all the NUSOJ campaigns calling for journalists to be protected against harassment and physical attack and he courageously never hesitated to lend his name to statements condemning each of the murders of his colleagues. Aged 43, he had a wife and two daughters.

He was the second journalist to be murdered this year, following Shabelle Media Network director Hassan Osman Abdi, who was shot dead outside his Mogadishu home by five unidentified gunmen on 28 January.

Somalia has for years been the deadliest country in Africa for journalists. According to the monitoring of Reporters Without Borders and NUSOJ, four journalists were killed in 2011, three were killed in 2010 and nine were killed in 2009.

Just a week ago, Reporters Without Borders wrote to the participants in the London conference on Somalia to remind them about violence against journalists and request the creation of an independent international commission of enquiry into all the abuses against media personnel in Somalia: http://en.rsf.org/somalia-open-letter-to-delegations-22-02-2012,41922.html

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