The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the arrest, detention and inhumane treatment of radio broadcast journalist Ismail Yusuf Abukar early on Saturday morning in Walla-Eeyn district of Lower Shabelle region in Somalia. which is around 90KM South West of Somali capital Mogadishu.
According to neighbors and the Director of radio Walla-weyn Ismail Mohamud Isak, heavily armed security forces raided the house of journalist Ismail around 5:00am and handcuffed him before taking him away. Ismail Yusuf Abukar is the Head of personnel and a Producer of sports programs at Walla-Weyn radio, the local FM station in Walla-Weyn town located approximately 90km south west of the capital Mogadishu.
“Until now, we do not know why he was arrested, and there is no word from the military officials who ordered the detention of the journalist,†Isak, Walla-Weyn radio director told NUSOJ by phone.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the arbitrary arrest, detention of journalist Ismail Yusuf Abukar. We we call upon the commanders of the security forces who arrested the journalist to immediately and unconditionally release him. His arrest is illegal and is against his will and also against his right to freedom of speech dully protected by the constitution of Somalia,” Mohamed Moalimuu NUSOJ Secretary General said
“The journalist is human and might be suspected or accused but it should go through the due processes of the law. We can confidently say that this kind of arrest is literately unlawful and unacceptable,†Muhyadin Husni, NUSOJ Deputy President said.
“Leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia must make true their full commitment of protecting the law by taking extreme measures to mitigate and end impunity for crimes against journalists like in the case of Ismail’s illegal arrest,†Husni added
Two days ago a TV cameramen Abdirizak Kasim Iimaan was killed in Mogadishu by a policeman who was on duty .The journalist was riding a rickshaw or Bajaj and was heading to work. It is unfortunate that the said culprit is yet to be arrested or charged. Kasim Iman, father to the slain journalist, himself an officer at the central prison told NUSOJ that the policeman who killed his son has not been arrested and confirmed that that no investigations on the incidence is ongoing.
We call upon the Federal Government of Somalia and in particular the Somalia Police Commissioner to bring to justice the policeman who killed our colleague Abdirizak Kasim Iman and to also bring to justice the forces who this morning arrested Ismail Yusuf Abukar. The Commanders who ordered the arrest should also be charged. We also want to see the journalist released without any conditions failure to which we will sue his office and all those perpetrators.
