Somaliland Police Beat Journalist in Hargeysa

Mogadishu, October 28, 2011

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) strongly condemns the violations against journalist which continues in Somaliland as Somaliland police has beaten seriously a Television journalist in Hargeysa.

Mohamed Abdi Kahin better known as Boosh, who works for both a Somali new website Ramaas and Royal Television 24 respectively, was seriously beaten by Somaliland police on Thursday Oct. 27, 2011 at Shacabka neighborhood in Hargeysa, in proud daylight. The police accused the journalist for taking recently published photographs.

The Secretary General of the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA), Mohamed Rashiid who contacted with NUSOJ expressed his concerns about the beating of the journalist called it "unfortunate".

"When I was seriously beaten, I requested them to take to the police station." Mohamed Abdi Kahin told NUSOJ, "But they refused me to file even my case to the police."

"We are following up the case and will file a case against the police involved in the beating on Saturday." Mohamed Rashid, SOLJA Secretary General said, "Impunity should not be allowed to perceive."

"We condemn the strongest terms possible and beating journalist or any other person is unlawful and call for the Somaliland authorities to investigate the case thoroughly and stop the harassment of the journalists and the obstruction of the freedom of the expression." Mohamed Ibrahim, the Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists said, "The violations against journalists in Somaliland has to end."

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) documented at least a dozen press freedom cases in Somaliland among them beating journalists, arbitrary arrests and threats.. NUSOJ asks for the United Nations, Human rights Organizations and press freedom groups to intervene the worsening and the climate for journalists in Somaliland and the rest of the Somalia.