Five ‘Nabad TV’ journalists remain in custody in Somali State, Ethiopia

By Shugri Mohamed

GOOBJOOG NEWS|JIGJIGA: Five journalists from Nabad TV in the Somalia state of Ethiopia still remain in custody about a week since they were arrested and the station shut down.

The journalists- Hirsi Mohammed, Shu’aib Ali, Salmaan Mukhtar, Ibrahim Hussein and Mohamed Kassim were arrested on November 10 when security forces raided the station and closed it down.

Somali Region Journalists Organization (SRJO) chairwoman Ayaan Shugri told Goobjoog News the five journalists still remain behind bars. “The five journalists were arrested and their phones, cameras and laptops confiscated. All the journalists did was report on what they felt is important. I believe the incarceration of the five journalists is unethical, Shugri said.

Four of the five journalists were arraigned in court on Friday but were not informed about the charges, SRJO said. The regional police sought more time from the court and were granted nine days to complete their investigations.

Nabad TV was founded by former federal women and youth minister Filsan Ahmed who resigned in September citing differences with the Abiy Ahmed administration.