Sadia Bajaaj Walks Free After Somali Appeals Court Quashes Three-Year Jail Term

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: MOGADISHU — After spending more than four months behind bars, Somali activist and social media commentator Sadia Moalim Ali, popularly known as Sadia Bajaaj, was released from custody on Wednesday when the Banadir Regional Court of Appeal threw out the three-year prison sentence imposed on her by a lower court.

The appellate judges determined that the Banadir Regional Court’s original ruling lacked adequate legal foundation for the charges of public incitement and abuse involving government officials, and issued an order for her immediate release. Bajaaj had served 122 days of the sentence.

Her defense attorney, Mohamed Sheikh Osman Said, confirmed the news to Hiiraan Online, hailing the appeals court’s decision as a victory for due process.

A Case That Galvanized Rights Campaigners

Bajaaj was arrested and subsequently convicted by the Banadir Regional Court following accusations that she had incited the public and insulted national leaders. The three-year sentence, handed down after a series of hearings, immediately triggered widespread condemnation across Somali society and drew significant attention on social media, where supporters closely tracked the legal proceedings and her detention conditions.

Human rights organizations, opposition figures, and civil society groups rallied behind her case, arguing that the conviction raised serious concerns about freedom of expression and judicial fairness in Somalia. Campaigners highlighted her family circumstances and questioned whether the charges met legal standards, urging the Somali government and judicial authorities to review her detention.

Amnesty International was among the prominent rights groups that called for Bajaaj’s release, adding its voice to a growing chorus of domestic and international pressure on Somali authorities to respect due process and protect citizens’ rights to free speech. The organization and other advocates warned that her prosecution reflected a broader pattern of restricting dissent and criminalizing online commentary critical of government officials.

The appeals court’s decision to quash the sentence and free Bajaaj after 122 days marks a significant reversal and is likely to intensify debate over how Somali courts handle cases involving speech-related offenses. For Bajaaj and her legal team, the ruling vindicates their argument that the lower court’s verdict lacked adequate legal foundation, while rights monitors will be watching closely to see whether the judgment sets a precedent for similar cases moving forward.