Somali Journalists welcome the release of the Somali Journalist after spending 66 days in Prison
Mogadishu, 17 March, 2013
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the release of the Somali journalist, Abdiasis Abdinur Koronto as historic decision taken forward toward the Somali justice system coming to reality.
Somali journalists, union leaders, human rights activists filled the court room on Sunday morning expecting positive outcome after the Somali journalist Abdiasis Abdinur Ibrahim spent 66 days in jail for interviewing a rape victim.
At around 12:30, the Somali chief justice, Aideed Abdullahi Ilka-anaf and announced that the court session is open and the hearing started. Prof. Mohamed Afrah, the defending lawyer briefed his appeal to the supreme court judges and requested the court to quash the sentences against his client and give his freedom back. The Somali attorney general said “that having found further evidences about the rape case, which if had had earlier, the regional court and the appeals would not have done such mistakes, having released the rape victim by the appeals court and that Abdulasis has the right to conduct interviews, I ask for the court to correct the mistakes earlier done by the both courts, to be able to correct our mistakes since the primary investigation of the case was misled.”
The Somali supreme court chairman, Aideed Abdullahi Ilka-Hanaf said “the Supreme court quashes the decision by the appeals court and gives his freedom back to Abdiasis Abdinur Ibrahim.”
After the decision was announced, Somali journalist Abdiasis Abdinur Ibrahim spoke to the media thanking to all who supported who took part in the campaign for his release including his lawyers, his union, the United Nations and the international community and promised that he will speak to the media, once he gets some rest.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), who Abdiasis is a member and been campaigning for his release since Jan. 10, 2013, welcomes the decision by the Somali supreme court to free Abdiasis Abdinur Ibrahim and called the verdict a historic achievement taken forward and thanked to the Somali Attorney general for taking the right decision by dropping the charges against the Somali journalists by investigating the bottom of the rape case in search for justice.
“We cordially the decision by the supreme court to free our colleague who was imprisoned for his profession.” Mohamed Ibrahim, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said, “The verdict to release Abdiasis proves that the basic rights of the Somali journalists enshrined in the provisional federal constitution are fully respected.”
“The other important message is that if anything goes wrong, journalists are able to help the authorities correct them.” Mr. Ibrahim added.
The National Union of Somali Journalists’ leadership and the Dalsan Radio management, where Abdiasis has worked took him a place to rest.
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