Associated Somali Journalists sends its concern on arrest of Somali Journalists by the Federal Government.

ASOJ is very concerned the safety of Somali Journalists arrested in Banda by The Federal Interim government based in Banda after they had returned the assessment journey in Burhakaba covering the situation there after tensions aroused.

We are hereby , demanding from those concerns for the release of the journalists especially from the Somali Federal Government authorities who had given the order for the arrest of those journalists who were doing their normal routine of work , doing their work with their mandate of informing the public what is happening .

We are very concerned by the reports that the arrested journalists are being investigated by Local C.I.D police in Banda under the control of the Federal interim Government while some other hints that are not confirmed say the journalists are in the hands of some unidentified foreign crime investigators who suspected them as infiltrators working for what they described as “extremists”.

We, ASOJ, believe the freedom of expression and that everyone has the right to move freely and not to impose upon him any kind of cruelty.

Journalists are free from rivalry between two groups whether their difference is based on politics or not.

Therefore, we, ASOJ, hereby, again demand the release of the arrested journalists.
ASOJ president
Dahir Abdulle Alasow