Somalia: Somaliland Journalist Held Without Charge for Asking Question At Press Conference

press release

New York — Authorities in the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland should immediately release Mohamed Adan Dirir, the editor of the online news portal Horseed Media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Mohamed has been jailed without charge since Somaliland Health Minister Saleban Isee ordered police to arrest him after he asked a question at a May 24 press conference.

Guleid Ahmad Jama, chairman of the Human Rights Center in Somaliland, told CPJ that Mohamed's question was critical of the minister's performance, and implied the minister's work may have been impaired by alcohol, which is banned in Somaliland. The news website Alleastafrica.com reported that Saleban was angered by Mohamed's question, and promptly ordered police to arrest the journalist. Guleid said Mohamed was detained without charge in the Criminal Investigation Department in the capital Hargeisa.

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