A regional government representative threatened to shoot reporter Abdirisaq Adan Qoslaye and photographer Adnan Mohamed Ali if they did not leave government premises.
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) strongly condemns the Somali Transitional Federal government soldiers and officials who beat two Radio Shabelle journalists in Mogadishu on 10 January 2011.
Journalists Abdirisaq Adan Qoslaye and Adnan Mohamed Ali were harassed and beaten by the spokesman of the Banadir Regional Administration, Mohamed Abdullahi Arig, and soldiers whom he ordered to beat the journalists.
The journalists wanted to cover a ceremony which was being held at the Banadir Administration headquarters for the Banadir football team, who won the cup at the Somali regions tournament.
“I told the spokesman that we had a right to cover the ceremony and share sports news with the Somali people, but he ordered the soldiers to take us out of the compound and he himself hit me on the neck,” said Qoslaye.
Arig said he would shoot reporter Qoslaye and photographer Ali if they did not leave the premises immediately.
Government officials threatened Shabelle Radio staff after the radio broadcast a programme revealing corruption at the Mogadishu port.
