Justice Abroad calls for the Immediate Release of Abdalle Mumin Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) Unlawfully Detained for the Second Time
Justice Abroad calls for the Immediate Release of Abdalle Mumin Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) Unlawfully Detained for the Second Time
Justice Abroad calls for the immediate release of SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin who was arrested at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu whilst leaving Somalia to travel to Nairobi. Abdalle Mumin is an inspiration advocate for press freedom and the safety of journalists in Somalia, a country that remains one of the most dangerous in the world for the media.
Abdalle Mumin was previously arrested in Hirshabelle in October 2021whilst running a media training seminar.
The latest detention comes after the Somalian media fraternity held a press conference at the SJS Headquarters in Mogadishu on 10 October 2022, where they expressed their concern about a new government directive that banned what was termed “Spreading Al-Shabab propaganda”. The media advocacy groups expressed concerns that they were not consulted in the drafting of these provisions and that the directive might be used to restrict legitimate freedom of expression and press freedom in the country. Somalian journalists have a long history of being repressed and attacked from both government and non-government actors.
Justice Abroad provides pro-bono assistance to the SJS in their fight for media freedom and has worked closely with Mr Mumin in providing a number of submissions on behalf of the organisation and individual journalists in Somalia to international bodies including the United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups and the African Court of Human Rights.
Mr Mumin’s arrest is contrary to the principles of freedom of expression enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Somali Constitution and the African Charter on Human Rights (ACHR). Article 19 ICCPR, Article 18 of the Somali Constitution and Article 9 ACHR protect the right to hold opinions without interference and the right to freedom of expression. Further, Article 32 of the Somali Constitution protects every person’s right of access to information held by the state.
Justice Abroad’s Director Michael Polak stated the following:
“It is outrageous that the principled Mr Mumin is being subject to unlawful detention simply because his organisation, who fearlessly act to protect journalists, were part of a group of civil society actors calling attention to the potential that the Government’s Directive might be misused to suppress the media in Somalia. By arresting Mr Mumin for speaking out, the Somalian Government has proved the point that the group was making, that the Government will use its strength to seek to silence those who speak out.
We call on the Somalian leadership to release Mr Mumin immediately and to stop this kind of repression against journalists and their representative.’
Further information about Justice Abroad’s work in Somalia can be found here:
The full article posted by the SJS can be found here.
For any questions in relation to this press release please contact Justice Abroad by email at contact@JusticeAbroad.co.uk or phone on +44 (0)203 488 2316.
Notes to Editors
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