Journalist Acquitted Of False Publication Charges In Somaliland

October 7, 2004

Mogadishu, Somalia, A Magistrate`s court in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland Monday acquitted Hassan Said Yusuf, Editor-in-chief of private Somali-language daily, "Jamhuriya," of false publication charges.

Yusuf was arrested by Somaliland police 31 August over an article published by Jamhuriya the previous day, relating to the ongoing Somalia peace talks in Kenyan capital Nairobi, which the Somaliland government has refused to attend.

At the Hargeisa Magistrate`s court packed with Yusuf`s sympathisers, including other journalists, representatives of human rights organisations and his family members, the prosecution accused the journalist publishing "unbalanced, untrue and baseless article" aimed at causing confusion in Somaliland.

Yusuf rejected the charges.

In his ruling, Magistrate Faisal Ali Noor said the prosecution had failed to prove its case against Yusuf and therefore discharged the journalist.

Five lawyers had volunteered to represent Yusuf in the case, while the Somaliland Journalist Association (SOLJA) has taken the government to task for attempting to curb freedom of expression.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalist (CJP) had also called for the immediate release of Yusuf, who has had previous brushes with the Somaliland authorities resulting in his arrest and detention several times.

Angola Press

Posted on Wednesday 6th October at 10:07:15