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Series of Press Violations Reported from Several Towns in Somalia in two Weeks

Mogadishu, November 4, 2014-The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is concerned about the latest violations against the press in several towns across Somalia during the last week and called for respect to the freedom of the press and the journalists human rights and their granted freedoms.

Two reporters were arrested in the town of Gabiley, the northern self autonomous regions of Somaliland on Thursday evening 30 October 2014. The two reporters, Muktar Nuh Ibrahim, a correspondent for the Horncable Television and Mohamed Sheik Hassan, SOMSAT TV Correspondent both reporters were based in Gabiley for working for privately owned Television stations.

According to Mohamed Boosh, a Horncable Television reporter based in Hargeysa, both journalists were arrested after covering demonstrations in the town of Gabiley last Thursday which angry mob burned the Somaliland flag. Gabiley district court ordered the journalists remain in jail for 7 days until their case is investigated.

In a separate incident, the police in the coastal town of Berbera arrested Mohamed Abdullahi Soofadhiiste, a reporter for the Somali Channel Television at Livestock at a disputed under-construction fattening center on Monday 3 November, 2014, where he was planning to report the story.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) calls for the Somaliland Authorities to immediately release the journalists and allow them to maintain their work independently.

“Its unacceptable that journalists are oppressed and obstructed from work and exchanged for jail terms.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “The Somaliland authorities should respect its constitution, theArticle 19 of the Universal Declaration of the Human rights and gave the media professionals an environment where they can exercise their professional independently without fear of reprisals.”

In Southern Somalia, Police briefly beat and briefly detained the Director of Warsan Radio, Hilal Sheik Shuceyb at the Southern Somali town of Baidoa on 28 October, 2014. According to Hilal Sheik Shuceyb who spoke with NUSOJ said that his arrest was ordered by the district police chief of Baidoa, Yusuf Mohamed Kherow.

“I was released after spending 6 hours at the Baidoa police station.” Hilal Sheik Shuceyb, Director of Warsan Radio in Baidoa said, “I do not know why I was arrested.”

The arrest follows after violent demonstrations erupted the town amid a conference for the formation of the regional administration of South-western Somalia was underway.

NUSOJ

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