Mogadishu, August 30, 2016,  The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns – in the strongest terms possible – the arrest of a Somali journalist on Tuesday, 30 August, 2016 in Kismayo, the capital of Jubbaland regional, located around 500 km South of Mogadishu.
The arrest of Jeylani Hussien Yusuf was confirmed senior intelligence officers in Kismayo town who said that the journalist is suspected and now is being interrogated in Intelligence Detention Center in Kismayo.
“â€We ask Jubbaland Administration particularly regional intelligence department of Jubbaland to release unconditionally the arrested journalist Jeylani Hussien and we call upon them to respect the media. Freedom of expression and freedom of opinion which are among the most fundamental freedoms and rights in any democratic society.†Said Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists.
Journalist colleagues in Kismayo told NUSOJ that the journalist was snatched by the security forces few minutes after the introduction of workshop participants in which he was among journalists taking part in the training workshop.
Jeylani has been staying in Kismayo for the last couple of months and worked with Kulmiye and Shabelle radios in Mogadishu although recently he was working as freelance journalist in Kismayo.
National Union of Somali Journalists is also very sorry the 15 journalists who injured on Tuesday’s terrorist blast in Mogadishu and we hope them speedy recovery.
Most of the injured journalists have been working with the government radio and TV and were at SYL hotel near Somalia’s presidential place to cover a TV talk show invited by the Minster of National Security. NUSOJ found out that all 15
