Trial of Somali Journalists Resumes Today In Mogadishu

Five Somali journalists would on Sunday appear before Banadir regional court, they stand accused of spreading falsehood against government and incitement of violence, according to the charge sheet, a charge they denied.

Four of the journalists belong to two sister media houses Radio Shabelle and Radio Sky, which were forced off air since the arrest of these journalists including the owner, the other journalist belongs to Radio Risala , he is accused of reporting a hoax story about Ebola outbreak in Somalia.

The owner of Shabelle and Sky Abdimalik and Ahmed Abdi Hassan deputy chief for news gathering department for Shabelle were out on bail, while others were behind bars for long.

The trial was delayed for several times due to technical grounds, but today sentencing is expected to happen.

On August 2014 government security forces raided the premises of Radio Shabelle and Sky FM arresting all the staff and forcing the stations off air.

Eighteen workers, including journalists, technicians and guards, were released within two days, but a court has ordered four senior staff be held pending an investigation.

At the time the information ministry said in a press release “Both radio stations were encouraging the public to take up arms against government forces,As a result of these broadcasts there were demonstrations in some parts of the city that led to the killing of innocent people.”.

The Attorney-General Ahmed Ali Dahir believed that the stations were responsible for provocative broadcasts and should face the law.

The journalists

1. Abdi Maalik              Owner of Radio Shabelle
2. Mohamed Bashir     Head of News for Radio Shabelle
3. Ahmed Abdi Hassan           Deputy Head of News For Shabelle
4. Mohamed Arab        Director of Radio Sky
5. Mohamed Abdi Ali Head of News gathering for Risaala FM

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