By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The Somaliland court of Appeal has released two journalists from prison.
The released duo is editor in chief and editor of the Hubaal media group Mohamed Ahmed Jama ‘Aloley’ and Hassan Hussein ‘Kef kef’ respectively.
The two who had been sentenced to between a year and two imprisonments for propagating false and malicious information by the Hargeisa regional court will pursue their appeal out of prison.
According to the Secretary General of the Somaliland Journalists Association-SOLJA Mohamed-Rashid Muhumed Farah the government through the offices of the ministers of interior and Information as well as the chairman of the court of appeal Justice Abdirashid Mohamed Duran were very accommodative to requests for release pending appeal.
“I believe this is the beginning of a new chapter in relations between the government and local journalists” said Mohamed-Rashid
On the other hand the fast intervention and subsequent release of the Hubaal journalists has been attributed to the effectiveness of the new Cabinet formed by president Silanyo recently.
Newly appointed Member of Parliament Mahmud Jama Warfaa said the release of the two journalists is a welcome move by the government.
Said he, “While the release pending appeal is a very commendable move I hope that the Hubaal newspapers closure shall also be solved amicably”
Read the entire sentencing article HERE
