The IFJ backed calls by its affiliate NUSOJ for the authorities in Somaliland to stop the…
The IFJ backed calls by its affiliate NUSOJ for the authorities in Somaliland to stop the persecution of independent journalists following the arrest of TV reporter in Borame (Somaliland), on Tuesday, 3 July.
The arrest of Ahmed Horri a reporter for privately owned Horn Cable TV was ordered by the Governor of Awdil region Mr. Abdirahman Ahmed Ali. According to local journalists, he was infuriated by a question posed by Horri in a press conference on 30 June. The journalist had questioned the governor about the activities of a secessionist armed movement in the Awdal region.
Consistent with the information given by the same sources, the governor rang the journalist on the night of 30 June and threatened him with arrest. He was arrested three days later when he was returning home.
The journalist is still detained at Borama police station and has not been officially charged with any crime.
“The detention of Horri Ahmed Horri reveals the mounting intolerance of Somaliland officials to the work of independent journalists and private media. It is abysmal for a journalist to spend a night in a police cell for asking an uncomfortable question,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
The IFJ strongly condemned the arbitrary detention and urges the Somaliland authorities to unconditionally release Horri. The IFJ is deeply concerned about recent attacks against journalists by Somaliland authorities which have the effect of silencing criticism, public protests and suppressing the dissemination of information on the territorial conflict.
Source: IFJ
