FESOJ and SOMA Issued joint message commemorating November 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI)
Mogadishu City, November 2, 2023: Farah Omar Nur, Secretary General of the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) has on behalf of the Somali Media Association (SOMA) released a joint message in observing the International Day to end Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, which is remembered annually on November 2.
The message reads as the following: –
“We are sad that Somalia is still in the second in the global index list of countries where journalists are persecuted and subsequently not received any justice according to the annual report released yesterday by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ), which is organized to monitor, register and investigate violations against freedom of the press and the human rights of journalists, and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) are concerned about the attacks against Somali journalists such as the killings, arrests, torture, threats and all acts of aggression against Journalists, these acts are against to the journalists’ services for the public.
As we know, last month, on the 16th of October 2023, in the city of Mogadishu, journalist Abdifitah Maallin Nur Qeys was killed in suicide bomb explosion. Also, in this same year, more than 10 journalists were arrested, media centers were attacked whereby many journalists were threatened and tortured, and some of them were prevented from doing their jobs.
In this year 2023,according to UNESCO, for the sake of the 2023 global event for the commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI), the global focus of discussion will be on the integrity of elections, the role of public leadership and the violence against journalists. In that regard, as FESOJ and SOMA today observing the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists event, is important for us the continuous violence against the journalists to be stopped in Somalia.
Therefore, the Federation of Somalia Journalists (FESOJ) and the Somali Media Association (SOMA) are calling on the Federal Government of Somalia, the Federal Member States and the Judiciary to stand up for how to end the crimes with no accountability and find justice for the violence against the Somali journalists.”
In conclusion, the Secretary General has completed his message in pointing out that Freedom of expression is a fundamental right; and that the Somali journalists have the right to serve their community without fear.
The FESOJ Secretary General message in short video clip could followed with the link:
