Nairobi, Kenya (HOL) - Authorities in the Semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland have been holding a local journalist incommunicado since morning hours on Wednesday.
http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2011/Jun/hiiraan_online_journalist_detained_in_puntland.aspx
About SMFD
- Somali Media Freedom Defender
- The website of Somali Media Freedom defenders is a blog that works and reports violations and abuses of the journalists in the war-torn-country (Somalia.)
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Journalists were detained in Mogadishu by government forces.
By Mohamed Odowa
Somali Journalists association network has learned that National Security Agency for Somali government has detained two radio journalists in the capital city of Mogadishu.
Both arrestees Mohamed Amin Abukar and Ahmed Ali Kaahiye are working for the privately owned independent Radio Kulmiye Based in the capital Mogadishu.
Mohamed Amin was the first journalist who has been arrested on Monday by force loyal to government. The journalist was reporting on the ongoing demonstrations and it was at this time when National Security Agency has arrived in the scene arresting for ten people including the journalist Mohamed Amin after alleged those people to be organizers for the protesters.
On Tuesday, the National Security Agency has again arrested 20 people who were mainly students and included another Radio Kulmiye Journalist Ahmed Ali Kaahiye while he was doing on his duties to report on protesters in KM4 areas.
“We are questing Somali government to release our colleagues Ahmed Ali Kaahiye and Mohamed Amin Abukar unless the government has a reasonable accusations clear for their arrests”, said Director of Radio Kulmiye Osman Guure
Two other freelance journalists were also reported arrested by the government force according to Radio Kulmiye journalist Ali Bashi Abdullahi.
Journalist Ali Bashi told SOJANET that he managed to survive of arrest as he was also covering on the protesters.
SOJANET condemns the detention of the Journalists and however calls on the Somali government to release the journalists without precondition and let them to report freely about the insight stories.
Read full of this article at http://www.somaliajournalists.blogspot.com/
Somali Journalists association network has learned that National Security Agency for Somali government has detained two radio journalists in the capital city of Mogadishu.
Both arrestees Mohamed Amin Abukar and Ahmed Ali Kaahiye are working for the privately owned independent Radio Kulmiye Based in the capital Mogadishu.
Mohamed Amin was the first journalist who has been arrested on Monday by force loyal to government. The journalist was reporting on the ongoing demonstrations and it was at this time when National Security Agency has arrived in the scene arresting for ten people including the journalist Mohamed Amin after alleged those people to be organizers for the protesters.
On Tuesday, the National Security Agency has again arrested 20 people who were mainly students and included another Radio Kulmiye Journalist Ahmed Ali Kaahiye while he was doing on his duties to report on protesters in KM4 areas.
“We are questing Somali government to release our colleagues Ahmed Ali Kaahiye and Mohamed Amin Abukar unless the government has a reasonable accusations clear for their arrests”, said Director of Radio Kulmiye Osman Guure
Two other freelance journalists were also reported arrested by the government force according to Radio Kulmiye journalist Ali Bashi Abdullahi.
Journalist Ali Bashi told SOJANET that he managed to survive of arrest as he was also covering on the protesters.
SOJANET condemns the detention of the Journalists and however calls on the Somali government to release the journalists without precondition and let them to report freely about the insight stories.
Read full of this article at http://www.somaliajournalists.blogspot.com/
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Daring to Report from Mogadishu
By MOHAMED ODOWA
Somalia, which has not had strong functioning government in almost two decades, is listed as Africa’s deadliest country for journalists with 34 journalists killed since 1991, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Despite these killings and daily death threats, a few reporters remain in the country to provide the world with an inside view of the fighting that plagues Somalia.
In Mogadishu, journalists have to deal with the often-horrific events of warfare which are unavoidable when filing unbiased reports and in a city that has been at war for twenty years. This type of reporting, which can often cast clans, militias, and warlords in a very negative light, can attract reprisals, such as physical harassment, intimidation, and even arrest and, at its worst, torture and death.
Oftentimes, those militant groups being covered by the journalist may demand the reporter turn over their photographic equipment. This is usually due to the fact that these groups, “don’t want to let journalists take video or photos of their combat losses or document civilian casualties, whether intentional or through collateral damage,” according to a local journalist who spoke with Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity.
Al Qaeda affiliated Somalia terrorist group al-Shabaab is currently engaged in fighting against the African Union, and the Western-backed Somali government is increasingly intolerant to journalists and the idea of freedom of the press. For these reasons, many journalists have opted to flee to neighboring countries, justifiably concerned about their safety, should they be reporting on a militant group that takes issue with their reporting.
Despite these risks, some journalists have chosen to return to Mogadishu to continue their work in providing unbiased accounts of the ongoing conflict.
"I know it is surprise for some people to return from Stockholm, Sweden just to report from Mogadishu, but for me it is as a normal duty because I want to tell the truth about my people and it needs us to sacrifice,” said Abukar Albadri, a Somali freelance journalist reporting for The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Aljazeera English, and other major media outlets.
"When I am away from the country, I feel that I am in exile, missing the most awful events and abuses targeting the innocent people," he explained. “All I want is to update my people's situation to the entire world and record the violations against the people.”
“The violence against journalists motivated some media workers to turn away from their profession and stayed at home all the time sharing their destiny with their family’s while doing nothing for occupation,” former Somaliweyn editor Burhan Diini Farah told Somalia Report.
Burhan’s Station and other radio broadcasts included the popular HornAfrik radio had been seized by al-Shabaab insurgents, saying the seized stations will instead serve to broadcast pro-Islamic content. “I am still jobless since al-Shabaab took Somaliweyn Radio in the last year,” said Burhan. “To be an independent journalist inside Mogadishu and the south and central Somalia is a matter of detention or death.”
“As you may know, al-Shabaab accused many journalists of passing sensitive information about its operations in Somalia to Western governments. They also looted several media stations and had forced many journalists to flee the country after accusing them of espionage,” explained Burhan Diini.
Journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein 'Jeeky', the director of Universal TV for their Mogadishu office, said, “I want to keep my role in media and it had never occurred to me to give it up. You know we want to bring the world to our people experiencing these frightful events first hand.”
Wearing a bulletproof vest, Ibrahim was shown on television as he was ventured out in Mogadishu war zones to video reporting. “I did it for the audience and people liked to see it,” he said.
Ibrahim told Somalia Report that he decided to leave Mogadishu for the neighboring capital of Nairobi, Kenya. "It was almost four months ago,” he said. “I want to remind you that some colleagues including myself are denied access to militia-controlled portions of the city, but are allowed to cover the government-controlled areas."
In June 2009, Ibrahim was arrested and tortured by al-Shabaab insurgents. He was later released and immediately sought refuge into neighboring countries.
"It's a very, very hard moment for all journalists. Despite the risks, we have a duty to report the truth," said Ibrahim proudly.
Editor's Note: Somalia Report's own correspondent, Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, was held by a militia in Hobyo. To read his terrifying account, click here.
Source: http://www.somaliareport.com/
Somalia, which has not had strong functioning government in almost two decades, is listed as Africa’s deadliest country for journalists with 34 journalists killed since 1991, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Despite these killings and daily death threats, a few reporters remain in the country to provide the world with an inside view of the fighting that plagues Somalia.
In Mogadishu, journalists have to deal with the often-horrific events of warfare which are unavoidable when filing unbiased reports and in a city that has been at war for twenty years. This type of reporting, which can often cast clans, militias, and warlords in a very negative light, can attract reprisals, such as physical harassment, intimidation, and even arrest and, at its worst, torture and death.
Oftentimes, those militant groups being covered by the journalist may demand the reporter turn over their photographic equipment. This is usually due to the fact that these groups, “don’t want to let journalists take video or photos of their combat losses or document civilian casualties, whether intentional or through collateral damage,” according to a local journalist who spoke with Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity.
Al Qaeda affiliated Somalia terrorist group al-Shabaab is currently engaged in fighting against the African Union, and the Western-backed Somali government is increasingly intolerant to journalists and the idea of freedom of the press. For these reasons, many journalists have opted to flee to neighboring countries, justifiably concerned about their safety, should they be reporting on a militant group that takes issue with their reporting.
Despite these risks, some journalists have chosen to return to Mogadishu to continue their work in providing unbiased accounts of the ongoing conflict.
"I know it is surprise for some people to return from Stockholm, Sweden just to report from Mogadishu, but for me it is as a normal duty because I want to tell the truth about my people and it needs us to sacrifice,” said Abukar Albadri, a Somali freelance journalist reporting for The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Aljazeera English, and other major media outlets.
"When I am away from the country, I feel that I am in exile, missing the most awful events and abuses targeting the innocent people," he explained. “All I want is to update my people's situation to the entire world and record the violations against the people.”
“The violence against journalists motivated some media workers to turn away from their profession and stayed at home all the time sharing their destiny with their family’s while doing nothing for occupation,” former Somaliweyn editor Burhan Diini Farah told Somalia Report.
Burhan’s Station and other radio broadcasts included the popular HornAfrik radio had been seized by al-Shabaab insurgents, saying the seized stations will instead serve to broadcast pro-Islamic content. “I am still jobless since al-Shabaab took Somaliweyn Radio in the last year,” said Burhan. “To be an independent journalist inside Mogadishu and the south and central Somalia is a matter of detention or death.”
“As you may know, al-Shabaab accused many journalists of passing sensitive information about its operations in Somalia to Western governments. They also looted several media stations and had forced many journalists to flee the country after accusing them of espionage,” explained Burhan Diini.
Journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein 'Jeeky', the director of Universal TV for their Mogadishu office, said, “I want to keep my role in media and it had never occurred to me to give it up. You know we want to bring the world to our people experiencing these frightful events first hand.”
Wearing a bulletproof vest, Ibrahim was shown on television as he was ventured out in Mogadishu war zones to video reporting. “I did it for the audience and people liked to see it,” he said.
Ibrahim told Somalia Report that he decided to leave Mogadishu for the neighboring capital of Nairobi, Kenya. "It was almost four months ago,” he said. “I want to remind you that some colleagues including myself are denied access to militia-controlled portions of the city, but are allowed to cover the government-controlled areas."
In June 2009, Ibrahim was arrested and tortured by al-Shabaab insurgents. He was later released and immediately sought refuge into neighboring countries.
"It's a very, very hard moment for all journalists. Despite the risks, we have a duty to report the truth," said Ibrahim proudly.
Editor's Note: Somalia Report's own correspondent, Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, was held by a militia in Hobyo. To read his terrifying account, click here.
Source: http://www.somaliareport.com/
Thursday, 2 June 2011
SOJANET Condemned Journalist Killed In South-Africa
Johannesburg:- The of Somali Journalists Associations Network known as SOJANET condemned the killing of Somali journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has highlighted the ongoing risks facing all Somali citizens in South Africa.
Ibrahim Mohammed Zaki, a reporter working with Somali TV Horn-Cable TV based in Hargeysa, the capital city of the self-declared government of Somaliland was killed in Johannesburg after gun-men attacked his car and shot him dead.
Journalists Associations Network known as SOJANET condemned the killing of Somali journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has highlighted the ongoing risks facing all Somali citizens
SOJANET calls this killing a tragic moment for media and Somali people in South-Africa, who have been victims of deliberate and deadly violence in recent months.
The authorities of South -Africa should take into custody the criminals behind this atrocious crime and bring to justice, said SOJANET Chair-person Mr. Omar Nur Gutale.
This is the first time that a Somali exiled journalist killed in South –Africa since Somalia is the world's second most murderous country for journalists.
According to Irinnews.org, the list of names of journalists killed in Somalia between 2005 and 2009:-
1. Mohamed Abdulahi Khalif Radio Galkacyo, killed 05 May, 2007.
2. Abshir Ali Gabre, Radio Jowhar, killed 16 May, 2007
3. Ahmed Hassan Mahad, Radio Jowhar, killed 16 May, 2007.
4. Mahad Ahmed Elmi capital voice, killed 11th August, 2007
5. Ali Iman Sharmarke HornAfrik, founder, and managing director, killed, 11 August, 2007.
6. Abdulkadir Mahad Moallim Kaskey: Radio Banadir, killed 24 August, 2007.
7. Bashiir Noor Gedi, Radio Shabelle, killed October 19, 2007.
8. Hassan Kafi Hared Kismayo 28 January, 2008.
9. Nasteh Dahir Farah, BBC Somali service, Kismayo, killed 7 June, 2008.
10. Hassan Mayow Hassan Radio Shabelle Afgoye, 01 Jannuary, 2009.
11. Said Tahlil Ahmed Radio HornAfrik, Mogadishu, killed 4 February,2009.
12. Abdirizak Warsame Mohamed “Gada’o” Radio Shabelle, Mogadishu, 22 May, 2009.
13. Nur Muse Hussein, Radio IQK, BeletWeyne, killed 26 May, 2009,.
14. Mohamed Yusuf Niiniile Radio IQK, Mogadishu, killed 4 July, 2009 Mogadishu.
15. Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, Radio Shabelle, Mogadishu, killed 8 June, 2009.
16. Hassan Subeyr Haji Hassan Photographer Al-arabia tv channel, 3 December 2009, killed in Mogadishu.
17. Mohamed Amiin Radio Shabelle, killed 3 December, 2009 Mogadishu.
18. Abdulkhafar Abdulkadir Freelancer, 3 December, 2009.
19. Ms.Duniya Muhyadin Nur, Capital Voice and HornAfrik radios, 5 June, 2005.
20. Kate Peyton, BBC, killed 9 February, 2005, in Mogadishu.
21. Martin Adler, freelancer, killed 23 June, 2006, in Mogadishu.
22. Ali Mohamed Omar, Radio Warsan, killed 16 February, 2007, in Baidoa.
By:- Somalimediafreedom.blogspot.com
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