Somalia / Two journalists freed in Mogadishu, two others still held in north
MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 31, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Two journalists who were wrongfully arrested by the National Security Agency in Mogadishu on 27 March – Radio Shabelle manager Abdirashid Omar Qase and news director Abdi Mohamed Ismail – were released unconditionally yesterday.
Shabelle Media Network, which owns the station, thanked all those who condemned the detention of their employees and paid tribute to the courage of the many Somalis who demonstrated on the streets of Mogadishu in protest.
In a statement, the media company said: “Regardless of threat and acts of bullying that we are facing from those oppressing independent reporting media operating in Somalia, Shabelle Media network are committed to continue flying the flag of independent journalism in Somalia.”
As previously reported, two other journalists, Liban Abdi Farah and Mohamed Abdinur Hashi, are being held in the northern regions of Puntland and Somaliland. Reporters Without Borders calls on the authorities to free them at once.
More information: http://en.rsf.org/somalia-journalists-harassed-arrested-in-28-03-2011,39900.html
SOURCE
Reporters without Borders (RSF)
