Court Hearing Adjourns after Journalists’ Lawyers Failed to Show up

Mogadishu, 5 January 2015 The Benadir regional court today adjourned the hearing of the Shabelle and Sky FM journalists, after the lawyers defending the journalists failed to show up.

Mohamed Bashir Hashi, Editor of Shabelle and Mohamud Mohamed Dahir, director of Sky FM, Abdimalik Yusuf Mohamoud, Chairman of Shabelle and Ahmed Abdi Hassan, Shabelle Shabelle newscaster appeared before the court today.

The chairman of Regional Court Dr. Hashi Elmi Nor adjourned the session due to the absence of the lawyers defending the journalists

The National Union of Somali Journalists called the absence of the journalists’ lawyers regrettable, since the two journalists Mohamed Bashir Hashi, Editor of Shabelle and Mohamud Mohamed Dahir, director of Sky FM were in jail for more than four months.

The Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mohamed Ibrahim, who was at the court today called the postponement of the hearing, disappointing.

On October 21, the regional court heard the case of the journalists for first time and released Abdimalik Yusuf Mohamoud, Chairman of Shabelle and Ahmed Abdi Hassan, Shabelle newscaster on bail.

The government forces raided Shabelle and SKY FM premises on August 15 and shutdown both radio stations. The government accused the radio stations for incitement.

NUSOJ