Abdalle was arbitrarily detained on 11 October 2022 a day after members of the Somali national intelligence raided SJS office in Mogadishu which followed after four media associations issued a joint press conference raising concerns against unlawful and restrictive order issued by the deputy minister of
information Abdirahman Yusuf al-Adaala. Since 4 January 2023, the
Banadir Regional Court made three hearings related to three charges brought by the office of the attorney general. All of the three charges are derived from the outdated Somali penal code.
The fourth hearing which was due on 26 January 2023 was postponed by
the court citing security reasons. However, the day collided with the eight anniversary of the day Abdalle had survived an assassination attempt in 2015.
“Monday February 6, 2023 will be a historic day as the state of
Somalia’s press freedom and freedom of expression will be at stake. SJS
Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin is the leading voice of Somali
journalists and the freedom of the press. We call for the Banadir
Regional Court to dismiss the case against Abdalle,” Mohamed Ibrahim,
president of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said, “We also
emphasise the joint statement in December 2022 by
the seven international human rights and press freedom organisation
calling on Somali Attorney General Sulayman Mohamed Mohamoud to drop all
the charges against Abdalle, noting that Abdalle had suffered
violations to his right to a fair trial and that his continued
prosecution casts a chilling effect on media freedom and journalism in
the country.”
“We remind the office of the attorney general that the penal code
which they are using to persecute our Secretary-General clearly
contravenes the Somali Federal Constitution and international human
rights laws including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Mr.
Ibrahim added.
In August 2022, Somali government recognised that the outdated penal violates the human rights including the right
to freedom of expression and subsequently announced that it can not be
used for journalists.
