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IFJ condemns arrests of journalist Alinur Salad over military criticism
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    Friday July 26, 2024

    Mogadishu (HOL) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) have condemned the arrest of journalist and head of Dawan TV, Alinur Salaad, in Mogadishu on July 22.

    Somali Police Forces detained Salaad on charges of false reporting and insulting the armed forces. He was taken to court on July 23 and remanded in custody for 45 days while investigations were undertaken and potential charges were prepared.

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    In a joint press release on Thursday, the two media organizations condemned the arrest as an attack on press freedom and demanded Salaad's immediate and unconditional release.

    IFJ Deputy General Secretary Tim Dawson stated, "The authorities must uphold press freedom and ensure journalists can work safely. Journalists must highlight issues of public interest and hold power to account. They should not face arrest for their reporting. Journalism is not a crime."

    NUSOJ also demanded Salaad's immediate and unconditional release, viewing his arrest as a move to suppress journalistic scrutiny. The union claims the arrest is a politically motivated effort to silence a critical media voice, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom. NUSOJ believes Salaad's detention is a direct reaction to his reporting on sensitive issues, such as the involvement of Somali soldiers in the khat trade and potential political complicity.

    NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman said, "Arresting a journalist without sufficient legal justification or due process for telling uncomfortable truths is completely unacceptable, and we condemn it in the strongest terms possible. It is the job of journalists to bring issues of public interest to the public eye and scrutinize them."

    Journalist Alinur Salaad was detained shortly after a one-minute video report published on Dawan TV and his personal social media account went viral, drawing significant public and media attention. In the video, Salaad accused Somali soldiers of trading khat, a mild narcotic plant, which led the authorities to charge him with false reporting and insulting the armed forces. The journalist has also published several sensitive reports on national security issues.

    According to his colleagues, Salaad is currently held at the Waberi Police Station. The police issued a statement detailing the charges and announced his impending court appearance.

    The arrest of Alinur Salaad has ignited a firestorm of criticism from former officials, journalist organizations, and social media users. Former President Sheikh Sharif and ex-Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheir are among the politicians who condemned the journalist's arrest.

     





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