New York, April 6, 2012-Authorities in Somaliland must immediately release two journalists who have been detained without charge for days in apparent violation of regional law, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
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Somaliland authorities arrested Ahmed Ali
Farah, a reporter for Royal TV, in the
northwest town of Las Anod, in the Sool region, on March 31, according to
news reports. Local journalists told CPJ that Governor Mohamed Mohamud had
ordered the arrest and said that Farah was being held in Central Las Anod
Prison. Three days later, Abdisaman Isse, a reporter for Universal TV, was arrested while visiting
Farah in prison, news reports said.
Somaliland law forbids detainees from being held without charge for more
than 48 hours. Local journalists said authorities had not disclosed reasons
for the journalists' detention.
Local journalists told CPJ they suspected Farah and Isse were arrested for
their coverage of the Sool region. The two journalists had recently covered
a conference in the town of Taleh that culminated in the announcement of a
new independent region, Khatumo State, the journalists told CPJ, adding
that they feared the arrests of other journalists who had covered the Taleh
conference.
"Authorities are holding Ahmed Ali Farah and Abdisaman Isse without
explanation, in violation of the law, and in apparent reprisal for
political coverage deemed unfavorable," said CPJ East Africa
Consultant Tom Rhodes. "The journalists should be released
immediately."
Control of the Sool region has been in dispute between the semiautonomous
regions of Somaliland and Puntland for two decades.
Somaliland authorities have repeatedly detained journalists this year in
what appears to be an attempt to silence any reporting of instability in
the region, according to CPJ research. |
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CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization
that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. |
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In Somaliland, two journalists detained without charge
New York, April 6, 2012-Authorities in Somaliland must immediately release two journalists who have been detained without charge for days in apparent violation of regional law, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.