Somalia: Female journalist summoned to Puntland court

BOSASO, Somalia, May 27, 2015 (Garowe Online)- An appeals court in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, northern Somalia has ordered the arrest of two journalists including a reporter with the Voice of America Somali service to face charges of "offending'' judges in the region's court.

In a letter addressed to the police headquarters in Bossaso, which was seen by Garowe Online,  the court instructed the arrest in an urgent priority, accusing journalists of insulting and threatening judges in the court.

Faduma Yasin Jama, a Puntland-based reporter for VOA says that she received a short text message from the Bari region's court in which she was summoned to come to the court on Wednesday. No further details have been given on the reasons behind the instructions; however, local journalists told Garowe Oline that the magistrates are apparently upset on airing of the recent interview the journalist had with the Puntland president Abdiweli Mohamed Ali who questioned the region's judiciary system credibility.

"It's truly a ridiculous thing for them to summon me without giving a reason." She told Garowe Online.

Local journalists have been mobilizing to talk into the court authorities to drop possible charges against the female journalist.

The development comes few days after the Puntland president has declared that his government would take a legal action against media
houses perceived to be biased.

In a recent interview with the VOA Somali service, he also noted that his government would not show goodwill to media houses in the region
that give voices to the oppositions politicians.

"That'll be intolerable," Mr. Ali said.

As parts of a new anti-media crackdown, Puntland security forces have arrested two journalists with the local Daljir radio after their radio hosted a debate on the insecurity in the region.

Soldiers raided radio Daljir's Garowe bureau and arrested the director Abdirahman Gardi and the reporter who hosted the debate discussing about the insecurity in region which saw several security incidents including a bomb attack on UNICEF minivan that killed four UN employees last month. 

Government officials declined comments on the arrest; however, media watchdogs often accuse Puntland administration of arbitrary arrests against media workers. 

The government led by the former Somali prime minister faces criticism on security failure and shortcomings, an accusation often dismissed by his administration. 

Puntland is locked in a deadly war against fighters from the Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia who are trying to set up a key base in the region which escaped Somalia's two-decades old conflict.

GAROWE ONLINE