SOJRA calls for Islamic groups to stop the violence and attacks against Somali journalists

Somalia has not had a power full central government for close to two decades but has had a week and no effective government. Mostly there is no press freedom in Somalia and freedom of expression particularly south and central regions and Somali journalists are struggling to do their jobs in one of the most dangerous places in the world and difficult to work as a journalist.

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.