Jul 24, 2007

Somaliland: Journalist Released


A journalist who was detained for having written a partial report on a traditional ceremony has been released after a dense mobilization of Somaliland’s civil society.

A journalist who was detained for having written a partial report on a traditional ceremony has been released after a dense mobilization of Somaliland’s civil society.

Below are extracts from an article published by All Africa.com:

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is welcoming the release of Journalist Abdirahman Mohammed Habane of Hargeisa-based Jamhuuriya Daily Newspaper who was arrested on Tuesday 12 July 2007.

Today's release [20 July 2007] of Abdirahman Mohammed Habane came after Somaliland Journalists Association, Somaliland human rights defenders and the management of Jamhuuriya newspaper met in Borame the Traditional elder, whose supporters accused the journalist of making partial report on the inaugural ceremony of the elder. Following discussions on the issue, the Traditional Elder and the Media and Human Rights Groups asked the CID to release the journalist as they resolved the problem.

Officers from Criminal Investigation Department in Awdal region arrested the journalist in Borame. […] [S]ources told the National Union of Somali Journalists that the journalist was arrested on controversial news report that he made on inaugural ceremony of an elder as a Traditional Leader in Awdal region. Following the publication of the report, there were clashes between the supporters of the Traditional elder and people against the elder's inauguration.