Press freedom rapidly deteriorating ahead of elections in Somalia: Journalists and media directors arbitrarily arrested LISTEN
DEC 29, 2020
MOGADISHU, Somalia, 27 December 2020 “Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) strongly condemns the recent arbitrary arrests against journalists and media directors in Mogadishu, Beledweyne, and Baidoa amid worsening pressures and threats on press freedom ahead of the country s general elections.
On Wednesday 23 December, Hirshabelle police raided a hotel in Beledweyne, Hiiraan region, and subsequently detained freelance journalist Abdukadir Mohamed Farah Dulyar who also doubles as the secretary-general of the Journalists for Human Rights.
The raid and the arrest followed a day after Dulyar interviewed the commander of an armed rebel militia, Abukar Warsame Hud on the outskirts of Beledweyne town, according to Dulyar himself and colleagues interviewed by SJS. The interview, which angered the Hirshabelle authorities, was partially broadcaste