SJS and SOMA call for Hargeisa court to reverse its politically-motivated and unjust verdict against Astaan TV CEO

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Thursday November 05, 2020 - 23:13:57 in Wararka by
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    SJS and SOMA call for Hargeisa court to reverse its politically-motivated and unjust verdict against Astaan TV CEO

    MOGADISHU, Somalia 5 November 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) strongly condemn the politically-motivated decision by the Marodi-Jeh Regional Court in Hargeisa against the subscription-based televisi

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MOGADISHU, Somalia 5 November 2020 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) strongly condemn the politically-motivated decision by the Marodi-Jeh Regional Court in Hargeisa against the subscription-based television cable service Astaan TV and its CEO, Abdimanan Yusuf on Wednesday 4 November 2020. According to Abdimanan's lawyer, Mohamed Ahmed Abokor, the courtsentencedfive years in jail and a cash fine of two million Somaliland Shilling ($250) to Abdimanan after a brief court appearance on Wednesday. The court also banned Astaan TV operations in Somaliland. The court did not specify what type of charges its verdict was based on. Abdimanan was arrested andhas been held in jailsince 17 July 2020 by authorities in Hargeisa and had reportedly been unable to meet his lawyers and family members. Since his arrest, Abdimanan had several court appearances including one on 26 July 2020 in which prosecutors charged him with two articles: espionage and operating illegal media company in Somaliland. The Court, however, did not find proof of evidence for both charges. Both Marodi-Jeh Regional Court judge Hassan Matan and the deputy Attorney General, Farhan Mire Osman did not respond when asked for clarification of the exact articles of which Abdimanan was convicted on Wednesday. "We condemn the politically-motivated and unfair decision by the Marodi-Jeh Regional Court against Abdimanan Yusuf, the CEO of Astaan TV, which apparently came four months after his illegal detention in Hargeisa. We call on the Somaliland authorities to protect individual liberty and to immediately release Abdimanan," Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the secretary general of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said "Somaliland Constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of expression including the freedom to operate media houses and therefore we call for the Marodi-Jeh Court to reverse its decision to ban Astaan TV."

"The unjust verdict handed down by the Marodi-Jeg Regional Court to Abdimanan Yusuf is a disgrace to Somaliland’s democracy. We demand his immediate release. Authorities should be aware that a democratic society could never exist without a freedom of expression. "Mohamed Abduwahab, the secretary general of Somali Media Association (SOMA) said.

Separately, SJS and SOMA jointly condemn the brief detention against the director of the privately-owned Radio Markabley, Ahmed Omar Salihi and its editor, Yahye Abdirisak Sofe by officers from the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Bardhere town, Gedo region on Monday 2 November. Their detention followed after the radio coveredlocal clan elderswho complained against Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Both were released on the same day without charge.(END)


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SOMALI VERSION

SJS & SOMA oo ugu baaqay Somaliland inay ka laabato go’aanka siyaasadeysan ee caddaaladda darrada ee ka dhanka maamulaha Astaan TV

MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya, 5 Nofembar 2020 – Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS) iyo Dalladda Warbaahinta Madaxa-bannaan ee Soomaaliyeed (SOMA) waxay si xooggan u cambaareynayaan go’aanka siyaasadedsan ee xaq-darrada ah ee ay Maxkamadda Gobolka Maroodi-Jeex ku ridday Maamulaha Guud ee Astaan TV, Cabdimanaan Yuusuf go’aankaasi oo dhacay Arbacadii 4 Nofembar 2020.

Sida uu sheegay qareenka u doodayey Cabdimanaan oo lagu magacaabo Maxamed Axmed Abokor, waxay Maxkamaddu ku xukuntay Cabdimanaan shan sano oo xarig ah iyo ganaax lacageed oo dhan labo milyan Shillin (oo u dhiganta $250). Maxkamaddu waxay kaloo xayiraad ku rogtay shaqadii Astaan TV ee gudaha Somaliland.

Maxkamaddu ma sheegin waxay u cuskatay xukunkanay ridday Arbacadii.

Cabdimanaan waxay Somaliland xirtay 17 Luulyo 2020, waxaana lagu hayey xabsiga tan iyo markaasi wixii ka dambeeyay isagoo sida la sheegay aan loo oggolaan inuu la kulmo qareenadiisa iyo qoyskiisa.

Tan iyo markii la xiray, Cabdimanaan waxaa dhowr jeer la horgeeyay maxkamad, oo mid ka mid ah oo ku beegneyd 26 July 2020, lagu soo oogay eedeymo kala ah basaasid iyo hawlgelin telefishan aan shati heysan. Hase yeeshee eedeymahaasi looma helin wax caddeyn ah.

Garsooraha Maxkamadda Maroodi-Jeex, Xasan Mataan iyo ku Xigeenka Xeer Ilaaliyaha Somaliland, Farxaan Mire Cismaan kama soo jawaabin markii aan weydiinay faahfaahinta waxa dhab ahaan lagu heley Cabdimanaan ee loo cuskaday xukunka ay Maxkamaddu gaartay Arbacadii.

"Waxaan cambaareynaynaa go’aanka siyaasadeysan ee ka fog caddaaladda ee ay Maxkamadda Gobolka Maroodi-Jeex ku riday maamulaha Astaan TV, Cabdimanaan Yuusuf, kaasoo sida muuqata yimid afar bilood kaddib markii si sharci darro ah loo xiray,” ayuu yiri Xoghayaha Guud ee SJS, Cabdalle Axmed Mumin.

"Waxaan ugu baaqeynaa masuuliyiinta Somaliland inay dhowraan xorriyadda shakhsiga oo ay si deg deg ah ku sii daayaan Cabdimanaan. Waana in sidoo kale xayiraadda laga qaadaa Astaan TV,” ayuu sii raaciyay hadalkiisa Xoghaye Mumin oo sheegay in Dastuurka Somaliland uu si cad u dammaanad qaadayo xorriyadda ra’yiga oo ay ku jirto furashada warbaahinta.

"Go’aanka xaq darrada ah ee ay Maxkamadda Maroodi-Jeex ku ridday Cabdimanaan Yuusuf waxay sharaf dhac ku tahay dimuqraadiyadda Somaliland. Waxaana dalbaneynaa in dhakhso leh loo sii daayo,” sidaasi waxaa yiri Maxamed Cabduwahaab Cabdullaahi, Xoghayaha Guud ee SOMA oo xusuusiyay Somaliland inay ogaato in bulsho dimuqraadi ah aysan jiri karin xorriyadda aragtida la’aanteeda.

Dhinaca kale, SJS iyo SOMA waxay si wadajir ah u cambaareynayaan xarigga muddada kooban ee ciidanka Nabadsugida iyo Sirdoonka Soomaaliyeed (NISA) ay kula keceen agaasimaha Radio Markabley, Axmed Cumar Saalixi iyo tifaftire Yaxye Cabdirisaaq Soofe oo Isniintii 2 Nofembar lagu xiray magaalada Baardheere ee gobolka Gedo. Labada suxufi ayaa la xiray kaddib markii idaacaddooda ay baahisay war la xiriira odayaal beeleed ka cabanayey Madaxweynaha Soomaaliya, Maxamed Cabdullaahi Farmaajo.

Labada weriye ayaa la siidaayey isla maalinkii Isniinta ee 2 Nofembar.(DHAMAAD)

PHOTO CAPTION:Abdimanan Yusuf, CEO of Astaan TV jailed in Hargeisa since 17 Jul, 2020. | Photo/Courtesy.

Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)

Osman Ahmed Roble Building, Maka al-Mukarama Ave,


Hawl-Wadaag, Mogadishu, BN, Somalia
Office line: +252 1 857 551 / Mobile/WhatsApp: +252 612 448 044
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