In this year 2009 five (5) journalists have been killed, seven others wounded while some others forced to fleeing their jobs when received phone calls from the armed groups against the National Unity Government of Somalia and the last recent killed was Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, who was the director of Shabelle radio based in Mogadishu.

A shocking two things in this year 2009 was the killing of Hornafric director Said Tahlil Ahmed while he was on his way for press conference to Al-shabaab group at that day Said accompanied by other media directors and some Alshabaab militias as guards but did nothing when Said was killed.

The other thing was the attack of radio Abudwak director Hassan Bulhan Ali while attending a reconciliation meeting between two rival clans on 7 February in Abudwak district and the attacker stabbed Hassan five (5) times in the chest and backside in the abdominal cavity.

In the light of the above, attacks on journalists violate their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and press and it deliberate attempt to silence the most important information revealing human rights violations by all parts to the conflict in Somalia

While this is exist, the Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) calls for Islamic groups to protect the young Somali journalists who are decided to work on this hard circumstances.

SOJRA is kindly requesting to all Somali Islamic groups to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with International Human Rights Law by the following these two items;

1- Halting death threats through phone calls and text messaging.

2- Facilitate their access of information by permitting full freedom of movement without feeling for constant fear of reprisal and harassments.

For the past three years and more journalists and media professionals in Somalia are among the people whose life is largely put in a dangerous situation.

SOJRA’s monitoring and observation sector (MOS) which systemically monitors and reports attacks on journalists is very power fully conveys the many dangerous that Somali journalists face on a regular basis.

Ref: 00134
Date: 07/06/ 09

Subject: Condemn
Women Journalist in Action (WOJA) extends condolence to the family, friends, and Somali media workers for the killing of Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, Director of Shabelle Radio and TV in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Somalia is the worst of the worst environments for broadcasters. Today Sunday morning (June 7) Shabelle Radio and TV director Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe was gunned down by “unknown” assailants, according to local reports.

Program Director Ahmed Tajir was also shot and was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Two Radio Shabelle reporters were killed this year in separate incidents. Hirabe survived a February assassination attempt in the same Bakaro market district of Mogadishu that claimed the life of Radio HornAfrik director Said Tahlil Ahmed.

We have been appealing to political groups to end the killing of media people, but no group listened.
Now is the time for the international community to take urgent actions instead of issuing statements expressing its distress and condemnation.

The condemnation signed by
The coordinator of Women Journalist in Action WOJA
Sahra Mohamud Koronto (Keef)

Ajournalist Muktaar Mohamed Hirabe 42 was shot dead to day in Bakara Market and other journalist of Shabelle radio Ahmed Taajir was also injured.

The Islamist organizations in Somalia are now a day seems that they adopted damaging of the Somali journalist and the foreign journalists coming to the country.

SOJRA monitoring and observation confirmed to day the releasing of Universal TV director Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein who was abducted on 02 June but SOJRA worry the healthof the Journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Hussien whom was the director of the universal TV for the south and central of Somalia.

It was June 03 2009 when the Islamist organization of Ahlusunnah wal jama’ah ordered to the horn of Africa reporter in Galgudud region not to release any news concerning the areas that they control otherwise they will be arrested and this is an other obstacle of existing real situation of the human rights in the region where there is a war going on in the region between them and the religious organization of ALshebab.

The same with that the Alshebab organization is terrorizing to the media whose spokesperson said that from the media call us our name a name he mentioned otherwise stop talking about the whole situation of Somalia no media can dare to say alshebab only otherwise they will face from us a very bad punishment this was on May 21 2009.

Alshabaab’s terrorizing to the media was also understood from one of it’s heads speech while he was speaking from the media of the horn of Afric radio named Maalin Hashi.

However, all this are against and obstacles to the journalism and the democracy and it do not seem that it will end up in a short time.

Finally SOJRA is calling to the international community to keep the eyes for those religious organizations damaging the journalists and to bring them in front of an international justice for the near coming future.

The Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) is denouncing the abduction against Universal TV director in Mogadishu.

Somalia has not had a central government for close to two decades and it’s hard to work as a journalist. But the young Somali journalists decided to work in these hard circumstances.

Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein “Jeckey” abducted by unknown militia when he was on his way from Afgoye to the centre of the TV (http://tvuniversal.tv/NS/ ).

“We think this abduction is just like threatening from part of the Islamists in Somalia” said Daud Abdi Daud, SOJRA Executive director.

All Mogadishu media directors are now attentive to what is next this painful action against freedom of expression and press freedom in Somalia.

All the parts who are involving the violence are not going to protect the young journalists in Somalia and this caused fear against the press on day by day.

Mogadishu: 26 May, 2009 The Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) contacted several sources very much close to the group who kidnapped the two journalists and the area kept them.

The resources are confirming that Amanda is pregnant mother now, but it is very difficult to know who the father of the child is. And part of the source say Nigel Brennan is the further of the child, while some other say the kidnappers raped her and did sex object. Only Amanda will tell when she is freed.

Conclusion this is case that merits strong investigation. And anyone found should face the law. All these sources are compatible that Amanda has pregnant of couple of months.

SOJRA is condemning Somali kidnapers who are still holding the two journalists and demanding immediate release.

The Somali Journalists Rights Agency (SOJRA) is to day denounce the death of prominent Somali journalist Abdirsaak Warsame Mohamed known as (Gado’o), who worked for radio Shabelle based in Mogadishu near by Hamar Jadiid district where his house is also located in Mogadishu.

“The obstacles and risks that Somali journalists and other media workers faced while they carry out their professional duty will remain ever since Somalia is under war and violence” said SOJRA, vice executive Director Bashiir Mohamed Abdilkadir (Albashiir).

A journalist Abdirisaak was died after; when he hears the sounds of the bullet fighting and goes immediately in order to carry out news and then cover but unfortunately shot died in the cross fire.

It was on 10 May when, three journalists wounded after when they were trying to cover a press conferenceheld in Ifka halane Islamic court centre by Alshabaab and as well as May 14 was also wounded a female hornafric journalist Nimco Hassan Ali in cross fire

Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) calls the warring sides to ensure the safety of journalists who is covering the war.

Somalia is most dangerouse place for journalists in africa and even in the world and its hard to work Somalia as a journalist,but the young Somali journalists decided to continue there work while it exist in this most dangerouse sounds and violations.

Al-Shabaab forces controlling south-western regions of Somalia entered the radio and ordered the management of the radio to shut down the radio and take in to the jail the director of the radio Mukhtaar Mohamed Atoosh, the editor Mohamed Adawe Aden and Mohamed Nur.

“We condemn closure of radio Jubba and it seems track of media censor and cutting off information from the people in Baidoa. So that in respect of freedom of expression, Universal declaration of human rights law, Al-shabaab sould let independent radio stations in regions that they are controlling can broadcast freely” said Daud Abdi Daud, SOJRA Executive Director.

Somalia continues to be a treacherous place for the journalists who risk their lives to bring the story of the ongoing conflict to the world and concerning about the growing press freedom crisis and violations in Somalia particularly in the south and central region.

Jama Ayanle Fayte who works for Online news website called Laasqoray.net and was also member of African Media Network

http://africamedianetwork.ning.com/profile/jaamacAyaanleFeyte

“We are very pleased that our colleague Jama Ayanle Fayte was released safe and in good health,” said Daud Abdi Daud, SOJRA Executive Director.

A Somali local online journalist, Jama Ayanle Feyte was jailed in Bosaso town of Puntland has been freed with a presidential pardon on Wednesday 15th April 09.SOJRA concerned about the violation against press freedom in Somalia

Muhidiin Hassan Mohamed was arrested yesterday night by members of Alshabab who control Bay region Somalia where he was reporting for Shabelle Media Inc.

Mr. Muhiyadiin was given a call by Alshabab members to confirm his availability in his house and then they came to his house and took him to the cell where he spent yesterday night according Ms Ubah Mohamed a close relative member of the journalist.

Alshabab members who arrested the reporter did not give comments of his arrest and the reason they arrested him but Sources close to Alshabab forces who control Bay region are indicating that Alshabab may bring the reporter today to their own court and sentence him to death penalty.

This year only two Somali journalist were killed, while another two were seriously injured and several others arrested. It was on Thursday 9 when Al-shabaab Group closed radio Mandeeq in Balad hawo of the Gedo region of Somalia.