HARGEISA (Halbeeg News) – Somaliland authorities have freed three journalists working with Hadhwanaag News following two weeks behind the bars.
The freed include news Editor Abdiqani Abdillahi Ahmed (Asbaro), Abdirisaq Goud Nur and Abdirahman Sheikh Hassan.
The three journalists were released on a bail meaning that they can be re-arrested anytime, according to the journalists’ lawyer.
Local and international media watchdogs including Somali Journalists Syndicate and International Federation Journalists (IFJ) have condemned the arbitrary arrest of the journalists.
In a statement, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has demanded Somaliland authorities to withdraw the unfounded and politically motivated charges against Hadhwanaag News journalists in relation to Hadhwanaag News website’s reports about alleged corruption against Somaliland’s Central Bank Governor, Ali Ibrahim Jama (Baghdadi) who filed complaints against these journalists.
“Journalists and media stations should be free to report alleged corruption against the public officials freely and without fear and the Somaliland authorities should see this as a constructive approach to correct their mistakes.” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary-General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said.
“We are also worried the order of blockage against Hadhwanaag News website inside Somaliland issued by Hargeisa-based MarodiJeh Regional Court on 03 September 2019, following a request from the police asking the internet service providers to block the news site,” adds Mr. Mumin.
The group expressed concern over the latest wave of violence against journalists in Somaliland where attacks on independent journalists and continued censorship against the free press has worsened. 17 journalists have been detained by Somaliland police since January this year.
On 18 September, a lawyer representing journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldon quit his role as defense lawyer citing intimidation and threats. Journalist Oldon is waiting for his appeal against three and half years jail sentence be heard. This followed the brief arrest of two broadcast journalists in Burao on 16 September as they were filming the city centre where Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi was on tour.
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