Guardian reporter and colleagues detained and beaten by Somali police
Summary
Three journalists working for the Guardian and other outlets were arrested, beaten, and threatened by Somali police while reporting on government abuses and protests in Mogadishu. They were released after questioning, but the arrests come amid growing political tension and a crackdown on independent journalism in Somalia.Key Facts
- Mohamed Bulbul, Abdihafid Nor Barre, and Abdishakur Mohamed Mohamud were detained by Somalia’s US-trained counter-terrorism police on Friday evening in Mogadishu.
- The journalists were beaten with pistols and threatened with death if they continued reporting on protests and abuses.
- Bulbul had recently reported on Sadia Moalim Ali, a woman who said she was tortured in prison for peaceful protest.
- Somali authorities have intensified repression of journalists amid rising public anger and the upcoming end of the presidential term on May 15.
- Several other journalists were arrested earlier that week, with some still missing and their locations unknown.
- Somalia ranks 126th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index and is considered very dangerous for journalists.
- Media groups and opposition politicians condemned the arrests as unlawful and politically motivated attacks on free speech.
- The Somali police chief in Mogadishu threatened the journalists not to report on protests and other issues related to government repression.
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