Human Rights Centre calls on the government of Somaliland to release Abdimalik Mouse Oldoon, a freelance journalist, who was arrested on 15thย February by the government over accusations that he supported and campaigned for a presidential candidate in presidential election that took place in Mogadishu onย 8th February, Human Right Centre said today in a press release.
Abdimalik was arrested after he returned from Mogadishu, sources confirmed to HRC. On 18thFebruary he was brought to Hargeisa Regional Court which remanded him seven days in custody. On 26thย February the court remanded him another seven days. He was not brought to court after the expiration of the seven days. He is now in Hargeisa Central Prison.
The police accuses Abdimalik of โanti-national activity of a citizen abroadโ and โpublication of false news capable of disturbing the public orderโ, according to the initial charges submitted by the police.
โThe main basis of the accusations against Abdimalik is opinions he posted in his Facebook page. Freedom of speech and expression are guaranteed by the constitution. Detaining someone for mere expression of opinion is against the constitution,โ says Guleid Ahmed Jama, the chairperson of Human Rights Centre.
โSomaliland shall not be annoyed by any opinion contrary to the dominant narrative. The people should be able to express their opinions without fear of reprisal,โ he added.
Human Rights Centre requests the government of Somaliland to release Abdimalik and drop all the charges against him.
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Guleid Ahmed Jama
Chairperson of Human Rights Centre
Mobile: +252759283208
Email:ย chair@hrcsomaliland.org