Somaliland editor sentenced to 3 years
in prison
New York, January 24, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists
condemns a three-year pri son sentence handed to a newspaper editor
in the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland in connection with a
story alleging public corruption.
Judge Ali Sudi Diriye, presiding in a regional court in Hargeisa,
found Mohamud Abdi Jama, edit or of the private daily Waheen, guilty
on charges of defamation and "spreading false news," lo cal
journalists told CPJ. The judge, who issued the ruling on Saturday,
also fined Jama six million shillings (US$900).
Diriye denied Jama bail and sent him immediately to Hargeisa Central
Prison, defense lawyer M ohamud Osman told CPJ. Osman said he
plans to appeal the verdict to the Somaliland's Supre me
Court.
The charges stem from a 2010 story accusing a state electricity
company manager of hiring m re than 50 employees from
his own clan, Somaliland Journalist Association Chairman Mustafa
Abdi Isse told CPJ. Waheen, part of the Waheen Media Group, is known
for its critical coverage of the government, local journalists told
CPJ.
Journalists with four other newspapers--Saxafi, Hargeisa Star, Ogaal,
and Yool--face pending criminal defamation charges brought by the
state prosecutor, the National Union of Somali Jo urnalists
reported. Local journalists told CPJ they fear the administration of
President Moham ed Silyano has reneged on its 2010 election
campaign promises to allow independent news me dia to work
without reprisal.
"Throwing journalists into prison runs counter to the
administration's promises to support a free press and embrace
accountability and transparency," said CPJ East Africa Consultant
Tom Rhodes. "CPJ urges the Supreme Court to reverse the conviction
of Mohamud Abdi Jama on appeal."
Source: cpj.org
|