Liban Abdi Farah was arrested when he attempted to report on a bomb blast in Galkayo.
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the arrest and the detention of radio journalist Liban Abdi Farah, reporter of Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) in Galkayo town of Mudug region.
Liban Abdi Farah was arrested on Friday, 19 March 2011, when he wanted to report on a bomb blast in Galkayo. Puntland police who came to the scene of the blast immediately arrested the journalist. His colleagues in Galkayo and from SBC were barred from visiting him in the police station, although his family members were allowed to see him.
“We condemn the arrest of Liban Abdi Farah and his continued illegal detention for three days. He was pursuing his journalistic work by reporting on what happened,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “We call on his immediate and unconditional release to end this detention which is against the law of Puntland”.
According to the Punyland legal system, the journalist was expected to be brought to court within 48 hours from when he was arrested, which is not currently the case of Liban Abdi Farah. He was not formally charged by the law enforcement bodies of Puntland administration.
