NUSOJ welcomes Solidarity shown by Jubbaland Journalists Association and MAP, Condemns the Alarming threats against the Media Fraternity

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the solidarity shown by the Jubbaland Journalists Association and the media fraternity in Kismayo, Jubbaland State of Somalia calling the court verdict “Unfair and injustice to all Somali journalists”, while calling the Federal Government of Somalia and the international community to intervene the situation.

Members of Jubbaland Journalists Association (JIJA), who spoke at the event organized by the association welcomed the State Attorney’s recent speech asking the High court to review the decision, which they called “Injustice”. While one the other hand, Reaffirming their support and solidarity the rest of the Somali media fraternity across the country.

Media Association for Puntland (MAP) issued a solidarity statement which robustly condemned the appalling verdict announced on Feb 10th 2016 by the Somali Supreme Court over the ‘’leadership’’ of the National union of the Somali journalist (NUSOJ).

The lawyers representing the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Federation of Somali Trade Unions, Dr. Abdulkadir Mohamed Muse and Prof. Abukar Mohamed Ahmed who are both from two different law firms will be filling the complaint to the High Court for a review along with the Somali State Attorneyon Saturday.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the solidarity shown by the both member journalists and Federal level journalists’ associations from Jubbaland and Puntland against the injustice, corrupt and unfair verdict, calling it injustice unfolding to the highest court of the country. NUSOJ also welcomes the solidarity protests shown by the Journalists in Hiiraan, Galgaduud, Mudug, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle and Benadir regions to mention a few. NUSOJ urges the media fraternity to continue the protests until Justice is served to the Somali journalists.

On the hand, The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the alarming and growing threats against the protesting journalists and media stations in Somalia which unknown callers have threatened to several journalists and media stations. The threats were both from mobile text messages and unknown callers against several journalists only for their protests against the high court verdict.

The threats include death threats from unknown callers, threatening the journalists to death, should they continue the protests, while some of the threats were received through text messages, some of which cited that NUSOJ should not disclose their names publicly for security reasons.

On February 9, 2016, the union’s ethics Secretary and a veteran journalist Amiin Yusuf Khasaaro received threatening phone call from Avv. Tahlil Haji Ahmed from Horn Legal over his coverage to the journalists’ rising protests.

The Solidarity Protests Will continue until our voices are heard and the justice is served for the Somali journalists.