Hargeisa regional court hands down prison sentence to manager and editor of Hubaal newspaper
Hargeisa, 03 July 2013 (SDN) – Hargeisa regional court has on today handed down a prison sentence and a fine to the Manager of Hubaal newspaper Mohamed Ahmed Jama “Caloolay” and the chief editor Hassan Hussein Abdilahi “Keefkeef.” The court sentenced manager of Hubaal newspaper to a one year prison sentence and a fine of one million Somaliland shillings where the chief editor of the newspaper was sentenced to a two year prison sentence and a fine of two million Somaliland shillings.
Hargeisa regional court judge Osman Ibrahim Dahir who spoke to the reporters after the verdict said that the suspension of the newspaper will not be lifted until the manager and the editor complete their prison sentence. Today’s court sentence followed a complaint lodged by the acting attorney general accusing the newspaper and its editors of propagating false information and defaming the president.
Previously the regional court banned all Somali printing agencies and distributors from printing and circulating Hubaal in 11 June this year.
Hubaal’s staff members were not notified of the suspension, and learned of the decision from an announcement on the state Radio Hargeisa, while Security agents and police prevented Hubaal journalists from entering the station’s office. The court said that the paper had been suspended at the request of Aden, the acting attorney general without offering further details.
Today’s court prison sentence and previous suspension of the newspaper was a result of their ongoing coverage of a construction dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia. Both countries are vying for political support from Somaliland, a close ally and strategic trading partner to landlocked Ethiopia, local journalists said. Hubaal has also published some hard-hitting anti-corruption articles in the past.
Journalists are often harassed, arbitrarily detained, or attacked in Somaliland. In April, two assailants raided the Hubaal offices and shot at the owner and manager, Mohamed Ahmed, injuring his arm and hand. No charges have been brought to date.
SDN Hargeisa