Press freedom group condemns jailing of Somali journalist

Journalists and media organisations have spoken out against the jailing of a radio station director in Somalia this weekend.

Abdifatah Jama Mire, who worked at a station in Bosaso, Puntland, was sentenced to six years in prison after broadcasting an interview with the leader of a militant group linked to Al-Qaeda, according to national reports.

It is understood that Mire was arrested along with seven other journalists from Horseed Media FM and the station's transmission was suspended, shortly after the interview aired on Friday.

The other journalists were released following questioning, but Mire was later charged with "supporting terrorists and inciting violence" and was sentenced to six years in jail, Reporters Without Borders says in a release.

"Mire's jail sentence and the arbitrary detention of his seven colleagues for several hours yesterday constitute flagrant and deliberate press freedom violations by the Puntland authorities," the organisation added. "We call for his immediate release."

Today the executive director of Horseed Media, Mohamed Muse Ahmed, added his voice to the calls for Mire's release, saying that an interview, even with a militant, "does not constitute supporting terrorists or inciting violence", according to a report by the Associated Press.

The director of the International Federation of Journalists Africa office, Gabriel Baglo, was also quoted by allAfrica.com as saying journalists must not be punished for allowing opposing views to be heard.

"We condemn this gross miscarriage of justice against our colleague. Independence is as the heart of professional journalism and the authorities cannot decree which views are allowed or banned in media. Even opposing views need to be heard in a democracy. This judgment must be set aside."

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