Journalists were harrased, beaten and arrested during the Somalia President’s visit to Galkacyo, Union of Somali Journalists said.
https://twitter.com/MOALIMUU/status/952539069338206208
Police in Galkacyo arrested Hanad Abdi Farah who is the Director of radio Voice of Mudug and beat and torture female journalist Bahja Abdulahi Mohamed and several others North of Galkacyo
The arrest of Farah came after his radio released a report on number of people who were organizing a rally against President of Somalia who was due to visit in the divided city the following day despite organizers of the rally were later dispersed by the police.
“I was arrested by the police on Friday around 10:00 AM local time and I am still in custody and spending a jail in Galkayo the second night” Hanad said as quoted in the NUSOJ press release.
#NUSOJ condemns the arrest of journalist Hanad Abdi Farah in Galkayo. He has been detained since Friday without due process. NUSOJ demands the journalist to be released soon from custody unconditionally. pic.twitter.com/t6Z5fJLUt5
— Mohamed Moalimuu (@MOALIMUU) January 14, 2018
The National Union of Somalia Journalists (NUSOJ) condemned the barbaric act against the female journalist Bahja Abdulahi Mohamed and the arrest of the Hanad Abdi Farah in a statement released by the union on Sunday.
“Press freedom is a critical issue in Somali regional states, where journalists are still harassed and jailed,” said Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu, NUSOJ Secretary General. “We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Hanad Abdi Farah as there is no lawful reason for his detention,” Moalimu added.
Some State administrations continue to put pressure on Media Houses to sensor them. On Januray 8,2018 A journalist Abdishakur Abdullahi Ahmed Shaashaa was released from custody in Jowhar with the help of NUSOJ after 12 days of detention at the Police Station in Jowhar.
Shaashaa was arrested on Wednesday afternoon, 28 December. 2017 after the local authority accused him for airing hate speeches and creating false reports
More than 30 journalists were arrested in several parts of Somalia in 2017 ,last year including Somaliland and the National Union of Somali Journalists is very much concerned with the continuing harassment against Somali journalists in the country.
