FESOJ welcomes the unconditional release of a journalist in Beledweyne
Mogadishu, March 20, 2018 – The National Union of Somalia Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the unconditional release today at around 3:30pm local time of radio broadcast journalist Abdishakur Mohamed Hassan who was illegally detained yesterday morning by Somalia forces in Beledweyne district of Hiiraan region in Somalia.
Abdishakur Mohamed Hassan who works for SAAB TV and Star radio was arrested on Tuesday March 19,219 by the security forces and according to Abdishakur himself his arrest was ordered from the office of Hiiraan Province Governor Yusuf Ahmed Hagar Dabageed
The release of the journalist came after a joint effort by local members of National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the Chairman of Somali Media Association Mr Mohamed Osman Makaraan.
“I have regained my freedom this afternoon. I would like to thank my colleagues and National Union of Somali journalists and SOMA chairman who stood up for my release and spent so much of their time to confirm, my release” Abdishakur Mohamed Hassan speaking on the phone to officials of NUSOJ.
I was first called the Governor on the phone and he ordered me to go to his office very quickly but as I was heading to there I was snatched the security forces who threw me to prison and I spent overnight in the regional intelligence center. Abdishakur said he was never questioned and only released today without even being told why he was detained in the first place.
A senior officials from the regional administration of Hiiraan told NUSOJ on the phone accused the a journalist Abdishakur of threatening a text message and one of the local commanders after one his relative was arrested .
“We welcome the unconditional release of our colleague Abdishakur Mohamed Hassan . However, we demand a full explanation from the local authority and in particular the governor who ordered his detention
Yesterday. Somalia has laws which outlaw illegal detention, arrest and intimidation. We will not accept these jungle rules to be the basis in which innocent journalists are detained, denied their constitutionally protected rights and their freedoms violated at will. We demand an explanation and a stop to such barbaric and outdated practice which must never be allowed to be the order of the day,” NUSOJ Secretary General Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu said.
NUSOJ calls on all Somali Federal and state institutions to avoid the arbitrary arrest of journalists and deal with their concern through the right channels. Authorities should respect the freedom of media which is among the most fundamental rights in any democratic society
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