October 23, 2008
Women Journalist in Action (WOJA), extends condolence to the family, friends, and Somali media workers for the killing of Bashir Nor Gedi, which marked the 19th Octobar 2007.
By Somali Journalists Rights Agency
2 comments | 
Archive Link
Women Journalist in Action (WOJA), extends condolence to the family, friends, and Somali media workers for the killing of Bashir Nor Gedi, which marked the 19th Octobar 2007.
Bashir Nor Gedi, Acting Chairperson and the vice chairperson of Shabelle Media Network, was assassinated at his home in the Wardhigley district of Hamarjadid neighborhood, on 19 October 2007, by unknown gunmen, according to his wife and his relatives.
The assassination of Bashir Nor Gedi seemed to be a premeditated attack, according to his family members and an eyewitness. He was the eighth media person killed in Somalia since January 2007.
Bashir was also a well known businessman.
“That was an intentional killing that has political motives”, said Fardowso Sh. Hassn, WOJA Chairlady. "It is totally intolerable and sent a clear message to each media person that his or her life was at risk because of his or her media activity. 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."
Shabelle Media Network had recently been experiencing attacks on its journalists and its premises. Several senior journalists of the radio station have fled Mogadishu.
WOJA appeals for immediate the release of three journalist who are now held hostages in Mogadishu.
a Canadian Amanda Lindahout, an Australian Nigel Brennan and a Somali Abdifitah Mohammed Elmi, their fixer are held hostages for ransom since August this year, when they were kidnapped near Mogadishu.
The kidnappers demand $2.5 million of ransom and threaten to kill them if the ransom is not paid.
Lindhout and Brenan are freelance journalists working in Somalia and Elmi was working as a fixer for them when they were kidnapped.
“We are very concerned about the security of our colleagues held hostages and deeply grieved by those killed in Somalia in midst of their work. We urge the negotiation party to take care of the safety of the journalists in hostage" said WOJA chairlady Fardowso Sh. Hassan. “We also extend our condolence to all the relatives, friends, colleagues and Somali people as whole for the killings of all media workers, who were targeted for their profession. May Allah rest their souls in peace."
A state of anarchy has raged in Somalia since 1991, following the ousting of former dictator Mohammed Siad Barre. In the midst of years of chaos, observers say the press has long remained vibrant despite harassment, beatings, imprisonment and increasingly, death.
More about:
Comments (2) • 
Email to a friend
Responses via 
Technorati • 
Google Blog Search
Share on 
del.icio.us • 
Digg
Comments:
From 208.66.7.182 on October 29, 2008 at 10:36 AM
It is sad how an individuals life can so easily be taken simply because he/she is doing their job.This was done to send a message to others who work in the media yet the message that I got is one of ignorance. Thanks for writing this.-Shampale Williams-
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
RSS Feed
From Istiak Shams on October 28, 2008 at 7:24 AM
Great post, thanks for writing it.