By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Freelance journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur was finally released from imprisonment last Sunday.

Also known as “Koronto”, Abdinur was arrested last month for interviewing a woman who alleged she had been raped by Somali soldiers. He and the alleged rape victim were brought into custody without warrant and were sentenced to a year in jail for “offending state institutions”.

On Sunday, however, the Somali High Court announced that the charges against Abdinur had been dropped. High Court Chairman Aideed Abdullahi Ilkahanaf told the press that the justices found “no evidence to support his charges.”

Abdinur was relieved upon hearing the court’s decision. “I’m happy to be free,” Abdinur told reporters after thanking the international community and journalist organizations for urging the Somali government to free him. “I’m very happy that I got my freedom back, I thank those who worked in this process that helped my release including my lawyers,” he added on his way out from court.

Abdinur’s case fueled worldwide outrage from various governments and human rights groups.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “deeply disappointed” by Abdinur’s arrest. The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, said his imprisonment “the wrong message to perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence”.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described it as “a direct assault on press freedom” in the country especially since it is in the process of recovering from civil war and dictatorship.

Condemning the government’s decision to convict Abdinur, Africa director at Human Rights Watch Daniel Bekele reminded Somali authorities that “silencing rape victims and journalists will not end sexual violence, but just reinforce Somalia’s climate of impunity.”

After announcing Abdinur’s release, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid acknowledged the “deep-seated problems” with both the armed forces and judicial system. He said that his administration shall implement measures to safeguard the independence of the local media. He hopes to put an end to the threats, arrests, and attacks several journalists have been subjected to. According to him, the local media plays a critical and constructive role “during the hard times of the country.”

But the Prime Minister also reminded the press of their responsibility. He told reporters that they, in turn, “should be professional and work in the line of the ethics of the media and journalism” as they receive protection from the government.

“Somalia is returning to normalcy and peace, the local media should prioritize how to pacify the country and lead harmony within the Somali people,” Prime Minister Shirdon said.

 

For further information, please see:

All Africa – Somalia: Somali Prime Minister Vows Protection of Independent Media – 17 March 2013

Al Jazeera – Somali journalist held over rape report freed – 17 March 2013

BBC News – Somalia frees rape row journalist – 17 March 2013

Reuters – Somali court frees reporter jailed for interviewing rape victim – 17 March 2013

Shanghai Daily – Somalia court frees rape reporting journalist – 17 March 2013