Three Journalists Briefly Detained in Southern Somalia

Mogadishu, June 10, 2014-The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is outraged by the arbitrary arrests of journalists by the Interim Jubba Administration on Tuesday June 10, 2014 in the town of Kismayo, after three journalists were detained for hours.

The journalists, Mascud Abdullahi Adan of Somali Channel, Abdirahman Sheik Aadan of Radio Kismayo and Khader Mohamoud Hared of Bar-Kulan Radio were detained for almost 3 hours after they were ordered via phone calls to come at the Central Police station in Kismayo, but surprisingly they were told, “You are under arrest.”

“I and my two other colleagues were called by the police around 9:00am in the morning, when we arrived, we were informed that we are under arrest.” Khader Mohamoud Hared said, “We were never told why we have been arrested.”

The journalists were released around 11:40am, without being informed why they have been jailed.

The Police in Kismayo did not comment the arrests of the journalists.

The National Union of Somali Journalists condemns the arrest of the journalists in the strongest terms possible and called for the Interim Jubba administration to protect the journalists by stopping arbitrary arrests against them..

“It is unacceptable that the journalists are intimidated with arbitrary arrests and should be stopped.” Mohamed Ibrahim, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists said, “The Interim Jubba administration must take further measures to curb the media violations.”

“The journalists should be provided a safe environment which they can freely report without fear or reprisals.” Mr. Ibrahim added.