Media groups petition Federal Government to end attacks against journalists

Media organisations and rights groups in Somalia have called on President Mohamed Farmaajo and Prime Minister to end attacks against journalists threatening legal action.

Through their lawyer, Dahir Ali, the organisations- Federal of Somali Journalists (FESOJ), Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Somali Media Association (SOMA), Somali Independent Media Houses (SIMHA) and Somali Women Journalists Organization (SWJO) demanded the government act to protect and uphold rights of journalists.

The organisations noted the government had violated article 20 of the Provisional Constitution which guarantees press freedom.

“Every person has the right to organize and participate in meetings, and to demonstrate and protest peacefully, without requiring prior authorization,” the article says.

Part two of the article gives rights to every person ‘to present petitions to State Institution’.

The organisations noted the government had offended the article and other sections of the law through arbitrary arrests and trials and failure to protect the rights of journalists.

They also cited public information control by denying journalists access to information and directing what should be said and not.