A journalist has been arrested in Somaliland following a complaint by the Somali Red Crescent over a news report on SRC's food distribution that the journalist published on the Internet. In The journalist, Abdiqani Ismail Goh of Radio Las Anod, had cited residents protesting how the food was distributed.
The arrest of the journalist on September 17 was ordered by head of Somaliland police division in Las Anod, Abdi Muse. When the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) contacted the journalist in his small room at the police station, he said the SRC head in Las Anod was behind the arrest. The arrest was made following the complaint by the SRC head in Las Anod, Dakir Ali Nur, who later visited the police station and reportedly threatened the journalist directly.
The head of the police, who presented to Abdiqani a copy of the news report the journalist published, also accused the journalist of not having an official recognition letter or any identification from the Somaliland Ministry of Information to work as a journalist in Las Anod.
"We unequivocally condemn this reprehensible detention of our colleague Abdiqani Ismail Goh and demand his immediate and unconditional release," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ-Secretary General.
"In light of the full involvement of the Red Crescent, which is against fundamental human rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression, we ask all forces for human rights and freedom of expression to impress upon the Somali Red Crescent in Las Anod and the Somaliland Police that this arrest is intolerable and shameful. Urgent action needs to be taken against this unlawful imprisonment," Omar added.
In May, Abdiqani was summoned to Las Anod police station for questioning after he was accused of disseminating information against the Somaliland government and the administration in Las Anod. Since then, he has been followed by the police.
Recently, Somaliland police in Las Anod also arrested two Radio Las Anod journalists, Abdiasis Ahmed Suleyman and Mohamed Ali Elmi, for their criticism of the Somaliland administration's policies in Las Anod.
