Somaliland Journalists Association-SOLJA –Press Release
By: M-Rashid Muhumed Farah
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The Somaliland Journalist Association-SOLJA is concerned about the legality pertaining to the arrest of a journalist in Ainabo town.
The detained journalist who works for caynabonews.com Mr. Mohamed Aden Dirir was at noon on 1st Saturday and to date he is yet to be arraigned in court thus our concern for his health condition as well as basic rights which have been violated by over 24 hours of incarceration.
In pursuit of securing release or arraignment in court for reporter Mohamed SOLJA communicated w
ith the Ainabo district court magistrate who informed that the arrest ensued after the journalist assaulted prison guards and took control of the local prison facility where he photographed an inmate who is on remand pending rape charges.
SOLJA is perturbed by the alleged crime of a journalist, singlehandedly overpowering armed prison guards and taking control of the correctional facility for the entire duration of an interview and photography of an inmate for a story subsequently posted on his site.
Due to the absurdity of the alleged crime and subsequent violation of his rights as per detention without trial we hereby demand that the Ainabo authorities expedite the arraignment in court of Reporter Mohamed Aden Dirir and on failure effect release from ongoing illegal confinement.
Thank you
M-Rashid Muhumed Farah
Secretary General
Somaliland Journalists Association-SOLJA
soljajour@gmail.com
