MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali police have arrested a TV journalist on Monday, Sep. 13, 2021 in the capital Mogadishu for a news report featuring on rape and murder case.
Journalist Ikran Ali Hashi, working for Dalsan TV, has reported the story of Hamdi Mohamed Farah, who was raped and then murdered on on Sunday, Sep 12, 2021 in Mogadishu.
She was arrested on Monday, and is currently being held a police station where she is being interrogated for her report on the rape and murder case of Farah.
Hashi had interviewed the victim’s relatives before releasing the story, according to her colleagues at Dalsan media group based in Mogadishu.
The police say she was liable for reporting a sensitive story that they were containing from reaching to the public as some of the perpetrators ran away from the capital.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has condemned the arrest of journalist Ikraan Ali Hashi and called it as “a violation of the rights of journalists”.
NUSOJ also said that Ikraan had exposed a case that could never be concealed but instead of being rewarded for its heroic work it was turned into a prison she never deserved.
“Such arbitrary detention must stop now, people must know the truth, the rape victim deserves justice and journalists must continue doing their journalistic work” added NUSOJ.
Ikran is among several journalists, who have been victims for the Somali Police Force that are obliged to protect the rights and safety of journalists.
It is not the first time that journalists have been arrested for covering rape and murder cases. Somalia is one of the most dangerous places for journalists to work.
