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Journalist Detained Overnight Was Released On Bail In Central Somalia

By Hassan Ali Gesey

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is alarmed by continued violations against the press freedom in Somalia, after moderate Islamists of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama administration in Abudwaq District of Galgadud Region, central Somalia jailed overnight broadcast journalist.

Abdikarim Ahmed Bulhan, who works for Radio Abduwaq and Radio Shabelle based in Mogadishu respectively, was arrested Saturday night by militias loyal to Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama in Abudwaq district and put him in custody, where he spent the night. He was released on bail on Sunday.

Bulhan's arrest comes days after the radio he was working for was banned by the Ahlu Sunna Administration. It is believed that his arrest is associated with the ban. It is not yet clear the main reason behind Bulhan's arrest. Abdulkarim was the correspondent of Radio Shabelle in the region, which the moderate islamists banned the radio from the region last week, which the islamists accused for broadcasting incitement news contrary to security in the region.

"It is really sad news, we urge Ahlu Sunna Waljama to lift the ban and respect the freedom of press." Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ acting Secretary General said, "We condemn the strongest terms possible to the ban of the radio and the arrest of the journalist is clear violation to suppress the freedom of the press."

However, the Ahlu Sunna Waljama group had earlier shut down Radio Abudwaq several times in Abudwaq town under their control, but this proves the latest setback for the deteriorating press freedom in Somalia.

In a separate development, the new Radio station known KULMIYE was launched in Mogadishu on Sunday. Kulmiye radio is an independent radio station launched by a group of renowned Somali journalists. The radio will join the dozen more radios listened in Mogadishu.

For more information, please contact:

NUSOJ office in Mogadishu

Email: nusojsomali@gmail.com

Tel: +252 859944

Hassan Ali Gesey is an experienced correspondent in Mogadishu, Somalia Hassan Ali Gesey is an experienced correspondent in Mogadishu, Somalia