Joint-statement by East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, Somali-speaking Writers PEN Centre and National Union of Somali Journalists

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net), Somali-Speaking Centre of International PEN and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) today organized jointly a Solidarity Event in Djibouti to provide financial assistance from the National Endowment for Democracy, through EHAHRD-Net, to Somali journalists who fled to Djibouti from the violence in Somalia. The three Organizations are profoundly concerned about the dangerous press freedom situation that allows the killing, injuring, jailing and intimidation of journalists in Somalia.

Each year the attacks on press freedom come from different opposing sides and new sacrifices are made by those in the forefront such as reporters, photographers and cameramen. Somali Journalists are constantly under fire within a growing culture of impunity.

According to the National Union of Somali Journalists, so far this year one journalist was murdered, two journalists were seriously injured, five journalists were arbitrarily arrested in separate times, while four media houses were closed down and robbed. Journalists incessantly face Death threats, censorship and intimidations. One journalist is still being detained in Mogadishu.

EHAHRD-Net, Somali-Speaking PEN and NUSOJ denounce unrelenting attacks against journalists in strongest terms possible and demand the end of crimes against journalists. When journalists are working in an environment of fear, daily threats to their life and censorship, freedom of the press and fundamental human rights are knowingly violated.

The right to a free press is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which obviously states that the right to freedom of opinion and expression includes freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Because of the scale and the gravity of the rising violations, Somali journalists are facing one of their hardest challenges ever. Each year, more and more journalists have been targeted, brutalised and done to death in almost every region of the country.

Many journalists have to abandon their families and home country, and sometimes even their profession in order to save their lives. Three organisations are extremely disturbed by recurrent attempts to harass and terrorize journalists and limit their professional freedom.

NUSOJ, Somali-Speaking Centre of International PEN and EHAHRD-Net are worried about precarious working condition of journalists which also threaten quality of journalism, principles of press freedom, human rights, the welfare of journalists & other media workers, respect for democratic values and good governance.

Recent tragic death of two prominent and respected artists, Ahmed Nur Jangow and Abullahi Amir Roble, highlight the plight of Somali Creative Community and their multifaceted suffering since the onset of the continuing violent conflict and chaos in Somalia.

The three press freedom and human rights organisations are troubled by the brutalities against Somali Singers, comedians and actors and their poor living standard. Somali artistes lack fundamental right to life.

Members of the Somali Creative Community, including artists, writers and journalists, who remain inside the country – because they are either unable to flee or have chosen not to do so – are continually faced by targeted killings, intimidation and detention by all sides in the Somali conflict who are disparately seeking to control, stifle and manipulate information.

Somali artists are poorly organised and resourced to speak for themselves. Poor working conditions of the singers and comedians are major impediments to their ability to work professionally and advocate for their rights. Their freedom of expression and the right to be informed are furthermore infringed and ignored. The organizations vehemently condemn these aggressions.

Signed By:

1. Hassan Shire Sheik, Chairperson, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net)

2. Dr. Mohammed Dahir Afrah, President, Somali-Speaking Centre of International PEN

3. Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General, National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

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Somali PEN Mourns Death of Two Popular Somali Artists in Mogadishu...

A gathering organized by the Somali-speaking Writers Center of International PEN in collaboration with the Somali Women Journalists Organization in remembrance of two popular Somali artists, Ahmed Nur Jangow” and Abdullahi Amir Roble “Aw Kuku”, was held in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Thursday 10 April 2008.

This gathering, which brought together some popular Somali play wrights, poets, journalists, writers, and human rights activists, was hosted by the Ismail Jumale human rights in Mogadishu. Speaking on the occasion Ms. Qamar Salad, Mogadishu representative of the Free Expression Committee of the Somali-speaking Writers PEN Centre and chairwoman of the Somali Women Journalists Organization, detailed in depth about the plight and suffering that all members of Somali creative community have been passing through since the onset of the continuing chaos and lawlessness in Somalia, after they had lost their basic rights to freedom of expression in the ever-worsening situation in Somalia.

Mr. Ahmed Nur, 58, a long-time popular singer and music composer, died in Mogadishu on 25 March 2008 of heart attack as a result of the stress and depression he had suffered for not being able to use his skills and work as a professional singer and music composer to feed his family.

Mr. Abdullahi, 83, one of the most popular Somali comedians, died in Mogadishu on 28 March 2008 of hunger and lack of medication after a long-time illness. Both of the deceased had left behind dozens of children and their mothers who will find difficulties in feeding themselves.

For the members of the Somali creative community who still remain in the country because either they were not able to flee or had chosen so are continually faced with targeted killings, intimidation, injuries, and deprivation of their rights to work and free expression as professional play writers, poets, writers, journalists, artists, singers or comedians as all sides in the conflict are seeking to control, stifle and manipulate information.

Despite all these, the situation of the Somali artists, playwrights, singers, musicians and composers, and comedians is far worse than the one of the Somali writers and journalists.

the Islamic insurgents who have been launching almost daily attacks in Somalia since they were pushed from power in December 2006 view the Somali modern theater and all forms of work of the Somali singers, playwrights, comedians, musicians and composers un-Islamic and thus unacceptable.

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