Somalia: Journalist Struck and Arrested by Somaliland Capital's Mayor

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arbitrary behaviour of mayor Hussein Mohamoud Ji'ir of Hargeisa, the capital of the northern breakaway territory of Somaliland, who on 28 June 2007 slapped journalist Abdirahman Musse Omar several times in the face and then had him arrested.

"The only explanation for Omar's continuing detention is abuse of authority by the mayor," Reporters Without Borders said. "Omar must be released at once. His arrest is the result of an archaic view of authority. It is the mayor, not the journalist, who should be punished since, as far as we know, Somaliland's laws do not permit this kind of abusive behaviour."

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