The Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) is concerned that a journalist working for the BBC World Service Trust have come under verbal threats, allegedly over livestock program he produces.

On December 09, 2007, Producer Farah Mohamed Yusuf, who goes by the name Farah Lamaane, received two phone calls by an unknown person warning him not to produce programs about the Somali livestock health. 




“The caller hurled vulgarities to me and threatened that if I continued to pursue such story, I would face the same fate as my former colleagues who were killed,” Lamaane told ASOJ. 

He also added that they have warned him to work for the “infidels” who want to create myth by keeping the Somali livestock on the current ban imposed by the Saudi Government.

Farah Lamaane who has been working for the trust in the last two and half years is currently based in Baidoa together with his colleague on a temporary relocation due to the instability in Mogadishu.

Within two weeks after the threat, a member of the Somali judicial branch was killed near a mosque where Mr. Lamaane used to pray.

ASOJ calls on all parties of the Somali conflict to respect the role of the media in reporting issues of public concern and to ensure that journalists are able to work in a safe environment.

Dahir Alasow

ASOJ Chairman