"Promoting Journalists Safety and Justice in Somalia"

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) concerns over the recent misunderstand among

Somali journalists and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG).

First of all, the international community should know that the media has the capacity to

promote peace but also to incite people to violence so SOJRA wants to clarify the existence

of the recently articulated article which stated that Somalia’s transitional government was

outraged by their story on its use of child soldiers on New York Times which was a wrong

expression and criticism from their correspondent in Mogadishu, Somalia.

On 26 June, Ibrahim said, he spotted police officers looking for him in the Trebiano area of

Mogadishu, where he had gone to purchase a plane ticket.

"The guys were the same guys who attacked me at the restaurant on 24 June.... and I

immediately noticed that they were in search of me and left the area immediately," Ibrahim

said in an emailed statement. He left the area immediately. Ibrahim said he realized then

that he could not leave the country through the airport – which is controlled by the Somali

government.

Obviously, SOJRA investigated the case in order to make the safety of the journalist but later

find out that a journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Isack known as "Bakistan" met two times Sheikh

Moalim Hashi Mohamed Farah, who is a member of Hizbul Islam leadrs and heads Banadir

region administration.

Sheikh Moalim Hashi Mohamed Farah is a close relative sub-clan of Hawiye to the New York

Times correspondents in Mogadishu Mohamed Ibrahim Isack both planed to collaborate and

structured the article which was incredible, well attractable and diplomatic ploy against

Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Indeed, SOJRA realized that Sheikh Moalim Hashi gave the journalist ten thousand (10thousand)

US dollar so as to manage his life and wrote the manipulative article against the

government.

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) is very sorry to find out such this blackmailed

stories which can jeopardizes the impartiality of Somali journalists countrywide and this

caused by the lack of enough payment.

Apart from the above stated information SOJRA is kindly requesting the international media

outlets to make sure the safety of the vulnerable Somali journalists instead of writing a

critical articles against their freedom and good will.

On the other hand, Somalia government should know that the Killing, threatening, detaining

and torturing of the Somali and international reporters will only pave the way more human

rights violation and NO Peace and security in Somalia. It will also lead to Somalia that the

private sectors which still exist in Somalia to total shut down.

The TFG has to know that the international communities are strongly considering media

reports as source of information, where decision to grant fund to the governments is also

based. Freedom of speech is an international treaty that Somalia has signed and the current

TFG charter is also stated about it, thus, the TFG must strongly support it asit is its own

interest.

For further information please contact

Mr. Daud Abdi Daud

SOJRA, Founder

Office Tel: +254 722 512026

Cell phone: +254 722 762 281

Email: [email protected]

Somali Journalist Rights Agency

SOJRA

KM4 Area

Hodon district

Mogadishu-Somalia

Tel: +252-1-223 421

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]

visit: www.sojra.org