SIMHA CONDEMS ARREST OF UNIVERSAL TV JOURNALISTS IN MOGADISHU

Mogadishu, 03 October 2015 – Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) Strongly condemns the detention of TV Journalist Awil Dahir and TV director Abdullahi Herse

Universal TV producer and host of weekly show ¨Dodwadag¨ or the debate was detained by Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) late on Friday and is being held at notorious Mogadishu prison.

Somali Independent Media Houses Association has learnt that the main reason behind Mr. Dahir & Herse arrest is due to last week the discussion program which was aired and tackled on the motion of no confidence against Somali government.

SIMHA calls upon the authorities to give back the TV journalists his freedom without any precondition and respect media freedom in the country.

“The continuous harassment and arrest of Somali Journalists by the government is unacceptable,” SIMHA Chairman Hassan Ali Gesey said via phone while attending 30th session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

“You can’t simply detain Journalists or shut down stations for doing their work of informing the masses on key issues,” he added.

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Ali Omar Ghedi | Qaranimo Online | Muqdisho