Somalia: Journalist released from prison after protests in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A news editor for local radio in Somalia capital, Mogadishu was on Saturday released from prison, four days after his unprecedented incarceration by the authorities.

Deputy GoobJoog FM Editor Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye was released on "bail" after protests that were organized by local Journalists, with former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and political leaders termed his arrest "illegal".

The journalist was arrested at Hodan Police station on Tuesday after honoring summons and was transferred to Mogadishu Central Prison without any charges being preferred against him.

In a tweet on Saturday, the media house said: "Goobjoog FM journalist Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye released on bail from Mogadishu’s Central Prison." Authorities did not give specific reasons for his arrest.

He joined dozens of reporters currently in loggerheads with the administration, which has come under sharp criticism from Amnesty International and local rights group, over "blatant violation" of media freedoms.

For the better part of Friday, several journalists thronged into the streets, demanding the immediate release of detained colleagues. The government did not interfere with the demonstrations.

After his arrest, police insisted that they were working on the arrest warrant delivered by the Attorney General on behalf of Villa Somalia, the official residence of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Sources said the journalist was accused of making an "alarming" statement on his Facebook, in which he claimed that a ventilator donated to Martini Hospital, had been transferred to the office of the president without due process.

“The statement cannot be justified by any means of the journalist's arrest, therefore, Somali Congress of Trade Union strongly condemns the risking attack, detention sustained act of intimidation," the congress said in a statement.

Somalia is currently grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and is facing a shortage of ventilators. As of Saturday, 135 positive cases had been identified, with seven people succumbing to the disease.

Martini Hospital is being used as sold isolation center within Mogadishu. Both Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Alibaba Group and World Health Organization have donated medical equipment to help arrest the situation.

The UN Human Rights committee accused FGS of criminalizing defamation, adding that the government should respect fundamental media freedoms as envisaged in the federal constitution.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has been facing an onslaught from the opposition for "governing with force" but has often denied the claims. Somalia is one of the most difficult nations to work as a journalist.

A report released by Amnesty International dubbed "we live in perpetual fear", mentioned FGS and Al-Shabaab as the "worst" enemies of the media fraternity within the Horn of Africa nation.

GAROWE ONLINE