news

SOMJA Welcomes William Hague’s Speech for Journalist’s Murder in Somalia

The Somali online Media and journalists association (SOMJA) welcomes the independent inquiry that the British Foreign Secretary William Hague has called for into the murder of Hassan Osman Abdi, the director of Shabelle Media Network.

For more than 20 years, it is the first time that an international officer has called for to investigate any case related in killing Somali Journalists.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also called on the British Foreign Secretary William Hague to ensure that the “independent inquiry” he called for into the murder of Hassan Osman Abdi, the director of Shabelle Media Network, is truly independent.

“For many years now, no crime committed against a journalist in Somalia has been investigated, and no one convicted of carrying it out, or ordering it.

“We have no faith in the current Transitional Federal Government to lead an independent inquiry, as it has been involved in campaigns to persecute, threaten and delegitimise journalists, their union and its leadership, and media organizations. This is why we have been insisting on the full independence of an inquiry into the murder of Hassan Fantastic. We are grateful that William Hague supports this call,” said IFJ President Jim Boumelha.

The General Secretary of the Somali online Media and journalists association (SOMJA), Mohamed Ali Abdi (Royter) has also called for the Transitional Federal Government to bring injustice, those killed Hassan Osman Abdi (Fantastic), and to defend the rights of Somali Journalists.

Hasan was one of ours – a committee secretary of the union’s Banadir branch and a highly respected journalist. There have been too many deaths of journalists who were simply doing their job and this must stop.” said Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ General Secretary.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on 3 February on his return from Mogadishu, Mr Hague said: “The case of Hassan Fantastic is particularly distressing to us. I want to take this opportunity to salute journalists in Somalia for the important and dangerous work that they do.”

“We salute the support of Foreign Secretary William Hague which strengthens our call for an independent inquiry, honors our fight for the killers of Hassan Fantastic to be indicted and our fight against impunity,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “This is a major political boost in the struggle for justice and accountability in our country”.

General Secretary of SOMJA, Mohamed Ali Abdi (Royter)
E-mail: info@somja.org / karaama@gmail.com
Telephone: +46764491913
www.somja.org