FESOJ Joins MAP in condemning Puntland Military Court for sentencing journalist Kilwe to three years jail

The Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) condemns in the strongest terms the three-year sentence handed down by Puntland’s Supreme Military Court to journalist Kilwe Adan Farah in Garowe on March 17, 2021, while relatives of the journalist and his lawyers were denied access to the court hearing.

The Lawyers for the journalist have slammed the verdict as an “injustice” and indicated that they will appeal against the verdict.

The journalist Kilwe Adan appeared before the military court on Saturday, March 13, 2021, during a brief hearing in which the persecutor brought forward new charges of “inciting to violence, the publication of false news and calling for revolt” and appealed against a 3-month prison sentence made by the First Instance Court of the Armed Forces on 3 March.

The lawyer of the journalists Kilwe Adan was present and no evidence was brought by the prosecutor leaving the judge to demand proof of evidence from the prosecutor who later requested an adjournment of the hearing.
‘The Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ) calls for the Puntland authorities including President Said Deni to free Kilwe and stop harassing journalists.” FESOJ President Abadir Abdulakdir Elmi said.

Journalist Kilwa has been in detention since December 27, 2020, after he reported an anti-inflation demonstration in Garowe which annoyed the Puntland President Said, Abdullahi Deni. The journalist Kilwa was held incommunicado for 16 days before he appeared at a military court on 11 January 2021 when he was charged with “murder and attempted murder “, the Military prosecutors distorted the accusations three times since then.
He was held at a secret location before he was now charged for three year’s jail term.

“It is unacceptable that journalists are still being sentenced under an outdated law, and we urgently demand the unconditional release of Kilwe Adan and the government’s reversal of the decision,” FESOJ President Abadir Abdulakdir Elmi said

The Puntland authority has recently been accused of muzzling the freedom of the press where journalists are arrested on a regular basis without following the legal procedures.

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