The Chairman of Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA), Mr. Shafi’i Mohamed Ibrahim has announced that all practicing journalists not to go to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) unless there is an arrest warrant issued by the courts in Somaliland paving the way for his or her detention.
SOLJA’s Chairman made the revelations after a journalist named Mr. Abdikani Hussein Abokor widely known as Wariye Bayloot, was detained at the CID headquarters on Saturday. According to SOLJA’s Chairman, the journalist was informed on Friday night to show up at the CID headquarters in Hargeisa on Saturday.
The Chairman went on to say that the journalist contacted him and informed him that he was summoned at CID headquarters in Hargeisa. SOLJA’s Chairman further disclosed that he accompanied him while he was on his way to the CID headquarters. They met with the Head of Investigations at the CID and subsequently was told that the journalist was placed under arrest without publicly presenting accusations that he was levelled against him.
He announced that no arrest warrant was issued against him, noting that the CID officials stated that citizens and journalists could be detained without issuing an arrest warrant. The Chairman went on to say that the journalist was not caught red handed, and went to the CID headquarters peacefully.
He further disclosed that SOLJA expressed its deep concern over the illegal detention of journalists and once they are brought before the courts, the judiciary will legalize the illegal detention of journalists. It called on Somaliland’s judiciary to look into the various arrests against journalists and those they remand.
He urged them to have a close look at the way these journalists have been illegally detained or whether they have been caught red handed. It further expressed its deep concern over the illegal detention of the journalist Mr. Abdikani Hussein Abokor widely known as “Weriye Baylood”.
It noted that there were various journalists who were informed to come to the CID while SOLJA accompanied them. He conveyed a stern warning over the illegal apprehension of working journalists. He said that opposition political party officials summoned at the CID have refused to show up there, and demanded that the journalists must follow other legal channels.
