"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,