Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Somalian Journalists Abused, Detained In Mogadishu

Somalia: Journalists Abused, Detained in Mogadishu

10 MARCH 2013

Somali police on Saturday (March 9th) assaulted and detained five journalists covering the regional court in Mogadishu, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

NUSOJ said Regional court Chairman Hashi Elmi Nor had invited the journalists to cover hearings at the court, but when they assembled outside, police officers began harassing them and threatening them with violence, Somalia's RBC Radio reported.

"We condemn the beating and the arbitrary detentions against the journalists and it is unlawful to knowingly point guns to the messengers," said NUSOJ Secretary-General Mohamed Ibrahim. "The journalists must be respected and facilitated in carrying out their duties."

In a separate incident, police beat and briefly detained journalist Abdullahi Ahmed Nor of UK-based Universal Television on Thursday. Nor was injured in the police beating and is now in hospital receiving treatment, according to RBC Radio.

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