PRESS STATEMENT
Djibouti, May, 28, 2009
The Somali-Speaking Centre of International PEN is grieved by the increasing killings of journalists in Somalia the latest of which was the killing of two journalists in this week alone.
Beletwein, May, 27, 2009
Veteran journalist Nur Muse Hussein, well known as “Nur Inji” of Radio Holly Koran died on wednesday 27 May 2009 from injuries he persisted from a targeted shooting in Beletwein city of Hiran region, Central Somalia on 20 April 2009. Mr Hussien 56, was wounded while covering a fighting in Beletwein between militias loyal to the Hiran Administration of Islamic Courts and Hisbul Islam, an Islamic movement that fights in south central regions of Somalia.
According to fellow journalists in Beletwein, Nur Muse Hussein was with three other journalists when one armed fighter shot him on the right leg after Nur and his colleagues were identified as journalists; several bullets splintered his right leg. Mr Hussein was in a stable condition since the attack but, according to his widow his condition deteriorated last week before he died yesterday morning in Beletwein.
Nur Muse Hussein who was working for Radio Holy Quran in Mogadishu as their correspondent in Central regions was long time reporter for former Somali News Agency (SONA) before the fall of last Somali Central government early 1990th. He was known for his great contribution and dedication to journalistic profession.
Nur is the fourth journalist so far killed in Somalia since the beginning of this year and his death marks systematic and deliberate violence against journalists in Somalia.
The Somali-Speaking PEN also mourns the death of Abdirisak Warsameh Mohamed of Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu who was shot dead in the early Friday morning of 22 May 2009 in a mid heavy fighting that broke out in Mogadishu on that day between the forces of Transitional Federal Government and those of rebel groups of Al-Shabab Al-Mujahidin Movement and Hisbul Islam.
Mr Mohamed died when a bullet hit him on the head as he was crossing the road at Hamar Bile neighbourhood in Mogadishu, according to the Director of Radio Shabelle Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe. It is not yet clear whether the bullet was a targeted shooting or just a stray bullet.
These incidents are the latest of a rising new wave of killings, injures and arrests against Somali journalists due to the increasing insecurity and lawlessness in Somalia.
On 4 February 2009, three men with pistols assassinated the well-respected Journalist Said Tahlil Ahmed, director of HornAfrik Radio and TV in Mogadishu.
On 1 January 2009, Hassan Mayow Hassan, a reporter for Radio Shabelle, was gunned down by a member of a pro-government militia in Afgoye, 30 kilometers south of Mogadishu. Mr Hassan was the first journalist killed in 2009 in the world.
The President of the Somali-speaking PEN Dr Mohamed Dahir Afrah voiced his concern over the growing killings of journalists in Somalia.
“These persistent killings of journalists in Somalia are a matter of critical concern. Journalists are civilians who play a vital role in informing the community in this divided country and there can be no political or religious reason for killing them.” said Dr Afrah. "We strongly condemn these inhuman and barbaric acts of killings aiming to silence journalistic voices and suppress freedom of expression in Somalia," said Somali Speaking PEN President.
The Somali-speaking Writers Centre of International PEN has calls for urgent international action to stop these targeted killings of journalists in Somalia.
"These killing of journalists are an indicator of the dangerous conditions facing the expression of independent views in Somalia, It's time for the international community to give serious consideration and focus again on this critical situation in Somalia," said, the Somali-speaking PEN President.
The Somali-speaking PEN has a profound hope that the sacrifice and heroic work of journalists in Somalia would not be demoralized by the current terrible conditions facing them and their efforts will lead to sustainable peace and better future in Somalia.
For more information contact the Somali PEN Centre at +253 35 7974
