By news desk

MOGADISHU (Sunatimes)- Somalia’s rebel Islamist group have banned a popular Somali television over airing libel prophet Mohamed cartoons depicted by a Swedish cartoonist on Saturday.

Alshabaab extremist group has announced Sunday that Universal television has aired ‘evil’ cartoons defaming prophet Mohamed and has been banned from operating in their controlled areas.

“They committed a big crime against Islam---they should apologize that soon” Sheikh Ali Mahamud Rage, Alshabaab spokesman told reporters on Monday.

“They will no longer work in the areas we control----they have started a prevalent slur against our prophet Mohamed” he said.

The hardline militia has also urged all Muslims to condemn the television and consider the move as a new fight against Islam.

The director of the television has dismissed Alshabab’s explanation against the story and he assured that they didn’t mean the cartoons to defame the prophet but just show the people the acts against ‘Islam’.

“Alshabaab’s claim was not accurate, we didn’t mean they way the put the story in” Ahmed Abu Bakar, the director of the television told Sunatimes by phone from Minnesota, USA.

The few Somali journalists who insisted to remain in the volatile country face self-censorship, exile or certain deaths as rebel militants impose them suppression against their reporting.

Somalia is considered one of the world's most dangerous countries for media workers, as most of the working journalist are fed up with ill-disciplined rebels.

Al-Shabab, who are fighting the UN-backed interim government, have several times banned media houses, aid agencies and intimidated journalist for airing reports not in favour of them.

The horn of Africa nation has been without central government since1991 after clan militias and warlords overthrown the dictator regime of Siad Barre that lastly leashed out to constant violence for more than 20 years.

sunatimes, source of Somalia news

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