ASOJ calls for Somaliland to free local journalist .

Hargeyso 18 March  2009

Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) is strongly denouncing on Wednesday the arrest warrant against the editor of Yool newspaper in Hargeisa city, the capital of Somaliland, a breakaway republic in north of Somalia.


Mohamed Abdi Urad, the ditor of Yool newspaper was sentenced five months in jail by the regional court in Hargeisa on Thursday after he has been held in the Central Investigation Department for 20 days.

The arrest of Urad came after Somaliland’s general attorney accused him of publishing none exist news stories and also producing unregistered news letter but his lawyer played down these allegations and insisted that the new newspaper had the authorization of the information minister.

The relatives of the journalist said they will take appeal against the arrest rule of their son.

ASOJ is expressing its deep sorrow over the court’s rule as unacceptable to the freedom of journalism.

ASOJ is calling for the Somaliland court to back off the arrest order put on the Yool’s editor and try give respect to the journalists in the region.

This comes day after Puntland policemen arrested the director of local TV channel ETN in Bosaso town Abdiweli Sheik as ASOj described it as in violation of human rights and freedom of speech.

ASOJ is a media organization that campaigns for the rights of Somali journalists in and outside of the country and promote professional journalism and practice for democracy in horn of Africa region.


By ASOJ Spokesman,Sunni Said Saleh
Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ)
Mogadishu-Somalia (Office)
sunni@asoj.org
asoj@asoj.org