– For the first time in history, the Somali Media Law justifies prior censorship to be imposed on the media on a condition that a media house is deemed to be breaching laws including the Media Law itself, according toArticle 3 (Clause 3).

– The Media Law should forbid any type of prior censorship unconditionally and guarantee the right to freedom of information as enshrined in Article 18 and 32 of the Provisional Federal Constitution (2012). The right to freedom of expression is also protected by Article 19 of theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which Somalia is a signatory and in the Article 9 of theAfrican Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).

– Journalists should not be censored or restricted from coverage under the pretext of vaguely worded provisions as perArticle 4 (Clause T, J and X)which cites"spreading false news”, "inciting violence or promoting tribalism”,"spreading unfounded propaganda”, "disseminating any news that contains hate or extremism”. This article should be removed.

–Article 5 (Clause T)which seeks imposition of a monetary fine (that will be issued in the form of a special regulation) on journalists, editors, media managers for breaching the media law or breaking government-owned Press Council’s "code of ethics” are indeed worrisome and intimidation against journalists and should be deleted.We also demand the removal of Clauses "J” and "X” that further give the Attorney General to prosecute journalists, editors and media managers over "payment of fines”.

– The requirement for media houses to obtain a license as stated in Article 9 (Clause X) is illegitimate with regard to online and print media. It is also not necessary for the already licensed broadcast media outlets to seek new license. We also refuse the imposition of advance deposit of unspecified amount of money for any new media house before seeking license, as described in the sameArticle 9 (Clause X).

–Article 11 (Clause J and X) which requires media owners to declare amount of money to be invested on the media house, its source of income/funds, private addresses and identity of managers as prerequisites for applying registration should be removed. The information required for registration of media should not include irrelevant details such as private addresses or personal income of managers and their educational qualifications.

–Article 13which states transition phase and mandates all media houses (new or previously registered) including online media to seek new registration within 60 days from the day this bill is assented into law is again illegitimate and should be removed.

–Article 14 (Clause 1, 2 and 6)gives Ministry of information the firm control on Somali Press Council. The Somali Press Council should be independent from government interference at all.

–Article 16 (Clause 1)imposes multiple licensing and registration procedures on all media outlets, to be overseen by the Ministry of Information of the Federal Government, the Somali Press Council and the Federal Member States’ Ministries of Information. This is a problematic article and inappropriate in democratic country. It will create more hurdles for media houses and will cost more money.

– Outrageously,Article 29 (Clause 1)criminalizes perceived critical reporting by imposing draconian penalties for "dissemination or publication of false information”, "incitement” or "spreading Propaganda against the dignity of any citizen, individual, institution or the government”. The same Article violates the protection of journalistic sources as one of the key rights journalists have in order to exercise their freedom of expression and to execute their duties as a ‘’public watchdog”. We call the removal for this article. (END)

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SJS oo ka dalbatay Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya inuusan saxiixin Xeerka Saxaafadda oo ay ku jiraan qodobbo dhibaateynaya xorriyadda saxaafadda

Muqdisho, Soomaaliya, 22 Jannaayo, 2020 – Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS) wuxuu walaac ka muujiyay Xeerka Saxaafadda ee wax laga beddelay kaasoo caburin iyo xayiraad ku soo rogaya saxaafadda oo ay ansixiyeen Xildhibaannada Aqalka Sare ee Baarlamaanka 14 Jannaayo 2020. Ururka SJS wuxuu ka dalbaday Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Federalka Soomaaliya, Maxamed Cabdullaahi Farmaajo, isagoo adeegsanaya awooddiisa Dastuuriga ah in uusan saxiixin Sharcigaas oo xafiiska madaxweynaha loo gudbiyay 16 Jannaayo, 2020.

Iyadoo diiwaan-gelinta iyo aqoonsi-qaadashada suxufiyiintu ay tahay arrin aan qasab ahayn ayaa waxaa wax aan la aqbali karin ah in Qodobka 18aad (Faqradiisa 1 iyo 2) ee Xeerkan wuxuu ku qasbayaa suxufiyiinta- oo ay ku jiraan kuwa madaxa-bannaan- inay iska diiwaan-geliyaan bar ay maamusho Wasaaradda Warfaafinta iyo Golaha Saxaafadda Qaranka oo aan weli la sameyn.

"Sharcigu faafreeb kaliya kuma sameynayo suxufiyiinta iyo warbaahinta Soomaaliyeed, ee wuxuu khatar ku yahay shaqada suxufiyiinta isagoo dembi ka dhigaya war-tebinta suxufiyiinta, isla markaana xayiraad ku soo rogaya shaqada ay suxufiyiinta u hayaan bulshada. Tani waa xadgudub weyn oo ka dhan ah xorriyadda saxaafadda Soomaaliyeed,” ayuu yiri Xoghayaha Guud ee Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS), Mudane Cabdalle Axmed Mumin oo ku baaqay in Madaxweynaha uu awooddiisa dastuuriga ah ku diido inuu saxiixo Sharcigan.

– Markii ugu horreysay taariikhda, Sharciga Saxaafadda Soomaaliyeed ee Baarlamaanku ansixiyay wuxuu oggolaanayaa in faafreeb hordhac ah lagu soo rogi karo warbaahinta iyada oo mar-marsiinyo looga dhigayo in xarun saxaafadeed ay jebineyso sharciyo ay ka mid yihiin Sharciga Saxaafadda, sida ku xusan Qodobka 3aad ee Xeerkan cusub (Faqradiisa 3aad).

– Sharciga Saxaafadda waa in uu mamnuuco nooc kasta oo faafreeb ah si shuruud la’aan ah iyada oo la dammaanad qaadayo xaqa xorriyadda macluumaadka, sida ku xusan qodobka 18aad iyo 32aad ee Dastuurka Federaalka ee Ku-meelgaarka ah ee Soomaaliya (2012). Xuquuqda xorriyadda ra’yi dhiibashada waxaa sidoo kale dhowraya Qodobka 19aad ee Baaqa Caalamiga ee Xuquuqda Aadanaha (UDHR) kaas oo Soomaaliya ay wax ka saxiixday iyo Qodobka 9aad ee Axdiga Afrika ee Xuquuqda Aadanaha iyo Dadyowga (ACHPR).

– Saxafiyiinta waa in aan la faaf-reebin ama laga xayirin war-tebintooda iyadoo loogu soo dhuumanayo qodobo si maldahan u qoran, sida ku xusan Qodobka 4aad (Faqradiisa T, J iyo X) ee Xeerkan kaasoo tilmaamaya "faafinta warar been abuur ah”, "hurinta colaad” ama "dhiirrigelinta qabyaaladda” iyo "faafinta dacaayad aan sal lahayn” ama "baahinta warar kasta oo ay ku jiraan nacayb ama xagjirnimo”. Qodobada noocaan oo kale waa in meesha laga saaraa.

– Qodobka 5aad (Faqradiisa T) wuxuu soo rogayaa ganaax lacageed (kaas oo sida la sheegay lagu soo saari doono xeer nidaamin gaar ah) oo la saari doono saxafiyiinta, tifaftireyaasha, maamulayaasha warbaahinta ee jebiya Xeerka Saxaafadda ama sharciyada kale oo uu ku jiro "Anshaxa Hab-dhaqanka Suxufiyiinta” ee Golaha Saxaafadda Qaranka uu dejin doono. Runtii tani waa arrin walwal iyo cabsi gelin ka dhan ah suxufiyiinta, waana in laga tiara Xeerka. Waxaan sidoo kale codsaneynaa in meesha laga saaro Faqradaha "J” iyo "X” oo awood u siinaya Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud inuu maxkamad geyn karo suxufiyiinta, tifaftireyaasha iyo maamulayaasha warbaahinta sabab la xiriirta ganaaxyada lagu soo rogo.

– Shuruudda ah in xarumaha warbaahinta laga rabo isdiiwaan-gelin iyo qaadashada shati (license), sida ku xusan Qodobka 9aad (Faqradda X) sharci darro marka loo eego warbaahinta internet-ka iyo warbaahinta daabacan (wargeysyada) oo aan xaq loogu lahayn. Sidoo kale qasab ma’ahan in warbaahintii horey shatiga (rukhsadda) u heysatay in markale lagu qasbo qaadashada rukhsad cusub. Waxaan sidoo kale aan diiddanahay in warbaahinta cusub lagu soo rogo lacag dabaaji ah oo ay dhigayaan ka hor raadsashada is-diiwaangelinta taasoo aan la cayimin, sida lagu qeexay isla Qodobka 9aad (Faqradda X).

– Qodobka 11-aad (Faqradda J iyo X) ee sheegeysa in milkiilayaasha warbaahinta ay soo caddeeyaan qaddarka lacagta lagu maalgelinaayo xarunta warbaahinta, halka uu ka soo galay dakhliga / lacagaha, iyo in cinwaannada gaarka loo leeyahay iyo aqoonsiga maamulayaasha xarumaha warbaahinta shuruud looga dhigo codsiyada is-diiwaan-gelinta xarumaha warbaahinta ee cusub waa in meesha laga saaraa. Macluumaadka looga baahan yahay diiwaangelinta warbaahinta waa inaysan ku jirin faahfaahinta cinwaannada dadka gaarka u leeyihiin ama dakhliga shaqsi soo gala ama aqoonta uu qof leeyahay toona.

– Qodobka 13-aad oo qeexaya "Marxaladda Kala-guurka” oo fareysa dhammaan xarumaha warbaahinta (ha ahaadeen qaar hadda jira ama kuwo cusub) oo ay ku jiraan mareegaha internet-ka (websites) inay raadsadaan is-diiwaangelin cusub muddo 60 maalmood gudahood laga bilaabo maalinta Xeerkan uu sharci noqdo ayaa sidoo kale ah sharci-darro, waana in meesha laga saaraa.

– Qodobka 14 (Faqradiisa 1, 2 iyo 6) wuxuu siinayaa Wasaaradda Warfaafinta inay awood dheeraad ah ku yeelato maamulka Golaha Saxaafadda Soomaaliya. Golaha Saxaafadda Soomaaliya waa inay ka madax banaanaadaan faragelinta dowladda gebi ahaanba.

– Qodobka 16aad (Faqradiisa 1aad) ayaa ku soo rogeysa nidaamyo isku xig-xiga oo shatiyo iyo is-diiwaangelin dhowr nooc ah oo dhammaan xarumaha warbaahinta laga doonayo, oo ka kooban diiwaan-gelinta iyo shatiga Wasaaradda Warfaafinta ee Dowladda Federaalka, Golaha Saxaafadda Soomaaliya iyo Wasaaradaha Dawlad Goboleedyada oo iyaguna diiwaan-gelin iyo shati qaadasho ka doonaya warbaahinta. Qodobkani waa mid dhibaato leh oo aan ku habbooneyn dal dimoqraadi ah. Qodobkan wuxuu u horseedi doonaa xarumaha warbaahinta caqabado badan, waxayna ugu kici doontaa lacag badan.

– Si ka xun, Qodobka 29aad (faqradda 1aad) wuxuu dembi u arkaa warbixinnada muhiimka ah ee saxaafadda, wuxuuna qodobkan soo rogayaa ciqaab adag oo ka dhalan karta faafinta ama daabacaadda macluumaadka "loo arki karo been abuur” (xitaa haddii ay run tahay). Sidoo kale waxaa dembi noqon kara wararka loo arki karo "kicinta” ama "faafinta dhaleeceyn ka dhan ah sharafta muwaadin, shaqsi, hay’ad ama xitaa dowladda”. Isla Qodobkaan wuxuu ku xadgudbayaa xaqa wariyuhu u leeyahay ilaalinta ilaha wareed taasoo ah mid ka mid ah xuquuqaha ugu weyn ee saxafiyiinta ay leeyihiin si ay ugu isticmaalaan xorriyadda hadalka iyo in ay u gutaan waajibaadkooda. Waxaan ku baaqeynaa in qodobkaan laga saaro Xeerka.(DHAMAAD)

For more information, please contact:

Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)
Address: Osoble-Adde Building, KM4, Near Hayat Hotel,
Wadajir, Mogadishu, Somalia
Office line: +252 1 857 551 / Mobile/WhatsApp: +252 612 448 044
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