Press release: Human Rights Centre expresses concern on prosecution of civilians before military court

Human Rights Centre calls on the government of Somaliland to stop prosecuting civilian people before military courts.

Criminal case against Mohamed Amin Jibril, freelance journalist, Safiya Jibril, civilian person, and a policewoman is pending before the first instant military court in Hargeisa. They are charged of “insult and threats” for allegedly sending insulting and threatening text messages to a civilian person.

The military courts have a jurisdiction in hearing cases against the members of the military as stipulated in article 104(1) of Somaliland constitution.

In another case, on 24^th July 2016 the military court in Hargeisa sentenced to death eight civilian people for the killing of Sahil Police Commissioner on March 2016, and other ten were sentenced to imprisonment between 8 months to seven years.

“The constitution does not allow a military court to hear a case in which the accused persons are not military,” says Guleid Ahmed Jama, the chairperson of Human Rights Centre.

“The constitution is the supreme law of the country. We call on the authorities to respect their constitution and halt prosecuting civilians before military courts,” he adds.

Contact

Guleid Ahmed Jama

Chairperson of Human Rights Centre

Hargeisa Somaliland

Email: hrcsomaliland@gmail.com