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Release of Somalian reporter demanded

News and features - Africa

By Samme Bogad

Monday, 01 October 2007

Hussein Dhaqane

The Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) is calling on the authorities in the Hiiraan region to release Hussein Hassan Dhaqane so that he can resume his activities as a journalist.

Dhaqane was arrested when the governor of Hiiraan region, Yusuf Ahmed Hagar Dabageed, was holding a news conference at which the local journalists had been invited.

When Dhaqane arrived at the news conference, militia loyal to Dabageed captured and arrested him.

According to the ASOJ chairman, Dahir Alasow, the arrest has totally undermined the relationship between the media and those governing the Hiiraan region.

“It is shameful for officials to arrest a Somalian radio reporter in these circumstances. He was simply going about his work.

“The authorities need to charge him and try him. If he is found innocent of the charges levelled against him then we will see that the arrest is an attack on freedom of the media.”

The ASOJ has also urged the TFG (Transitional Federal Government) to repair the damage done by the arrest to media freedom in Somalia and has demanded that the Hiiraan regional authority stops intimidating journalists.

Samme Bogad is a freelance journalist based in Kenya.

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Comments (3)

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written by ruush , October 03 2007

I think what dabageed is doing is more than enough how can important person(journalist) be arrested,one has to understand what freedom of press really is.we as a journalist we are the ones that spoon feeds others(world).What is happening to Hussein is unfair.let them look for criminals and innocent people.

Businessman!
written by Ahmed Ahmed , October 03 2007

We Somalis have to start respecting of human rights and not violate it all the time, especially those who represent the freedom of information such as journalist.
we demand the journalist to be released unconditionally.

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written by Ruun , October 03 2007

its very shameful and unfortunate of arresting when someone is on duty especially a journalist,without a reason.we are very dissappointed us as a media people and describing this situation of hussein dhaqane as a terrible one.Let Hussein be released so that he can resume his activities.

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