UN Human Rights Council’s envoy praise somali Government on combating sexual violence

From: Mareeg

The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Mr Bahame Nyanduga, concluded his first mission to the Federal Republic of Somalia today.

Mr Nyanduga, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, is mandated to support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) with capacity development and technical assistance in the field of human rights. 

During his visit the Independent Expert praised the Federal Government for the adoption of the National Action Plan to combat sexual violence. He also commended the Government for the gradual improvement in the political and security situation, the on-going Federal and State formation process, and the peace and stabilisation measures taken in the newly recovered territories, all of which are critical to the attainment of Vision 2016. 

Mr Nyanduga expressed concern at the capacity and resource constraints slowing progress in strengthening judicial institutions which has contributed to the pervasive role of military courts trying civilians. He also called on the Government to keep the commitment it made under the Universal Periodic Review to place a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. In this regard, he also urged the Federal Government to undertake urgent consultations with stakeholders aimed at the preparation and submission of its report in October 2015 in readiness for the Universal Periodic Review in 2016.

The Independent Expert said “The Federal Government together with the international community need to allocate adequate resources to strengthen the rule of law institutions and ensure that the interim regional administrations benefit from the New Deal Compact for Somalia. The Government should also ratify key international human rights instruments including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).”

“I also call on the authorities to ensure that the media are allowed their right to freedom of expression as well as to ensure the safety of journalists. At the same time it is imperative for the media to exercise professionalism and responsible media reporting.” He added. 

The Independent Expert urged the Federal Government to ensure that it incorporates international human rights standards and principles when adopting legislation including the media bill and counter-terrorism bills. He also called for the speedy adoption of the bill establishing a national human rights institution. 

Mr Nyanduga visited Mogadishu, Kismayo, Garowe and Hargeisa during his eight day mission and held discussions with the FGS Minister for Women’s Affairs and Human Rights Development, the Attorney General and other senior officials from the Federal Government of Somalia; the Second Deputy Leader, Suldan Abdulkadir Ahmed (“Lugadhere”) and Ministers of the Interim Juba Administration, the President of Puntland, ministers and senior officials of both Puntland and Somaliland. 

The Independent Expert also held meetings with Nicholas Kay, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), officials from UN agencies, funds and programs operating in Somalia as well as international and national NGOs and the media. 

Mr Nyanduga expects to undertake a second visit to Somalia before he submits his report with recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2015 aimed at assisting the Government to fulfil its human rights obligations.

Human Rights Center condemns the arrest of journalists in Gabiley

From: HRC

 

Two journalists were arrested in Gabiley, about 50 KM west of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. Mukhtar Nouh Ibrahim of Horn Cable TV was arrested on 30^th October 2014 and Mohamed Hassan Sh Mohamoud of SOMSAT TV was arrested on 31^st October. The journalists were arrested after they reported public protest against the ruling party. The protest was held by residents of Gabiley.

 

 Human Rights Center (HRC) condemns the arrest of the journalists in the strongest possible terms. The authorities shall immediately release the two journalists.

 

Every citizen has the freedom to express his opinions orally, visually, artistically or in writing or in any other way as stipulated in article 32 of Somaliland constitution. Suppression of the media is prohibited by the constitution.

 

“The journalists were arrested while they were doing their own work. They have done nothing wrong”, says Guleid Ahmed Jama, chairperson of Human Rights Centre. The action of the authorities violates the constitution and the international human rights instruments, adds Guleid.

 

 It is the responsibility of the authorities to respect the constitution. Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.

 

“This is not isolated case. Four newspapers, Haatuf, Hubaal, Somaliland Times and The Independent, were already banned by the government of Somaliland”, says Guleid, HRC chairperson.

 

HRC is concerned the continual crack down of the independent media. HRC calls on the government to release the journalists and to lift the ban of the newspapers.

 

Somali women, girls at risk of gender-based violence

From: Sabahi

Somali women and girls continue to be at high risk for gender-based violence (GBV), with more than 1,000 cases reported in Mogadishu during the first half of 2014, Somalia's RBC reported Sunday (October 26th).

 

According to the Somalia Gender Based Violence Working Group, a subsidiary of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the true number of GBV incidents is likely much higher due to a lack of reporting.

 

Survivors often choose not to inform security agencies, fearing reprisal by perpetrators and social stigma, the group said. Most reported incidents were rape followed by physical violence, with women and girls from displaced communities making up a majority of the survivors, it said.

 

Aid workers have been able to provide psychosocial support to 22,000 GBV survivors since the beginning of 2014, but prevention programmes and medical, psychosocial and legal response services remain under-resourced, the group said.

 

The Somali Ministry of Women and Human Rights held a training on gender-based violence in July, during which Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Somalia Lydia Wanyoto-Mutende said empowering women would contribute to the peace-building process in the country.

Forced returns to south and central Somalia; A blatant violation of international law

 From: Amnesty

Amnesty International considers that forced returns to south and central Somalia amount to a violation of international law. Amnesty International is seriously concerned about continued attempts by the Dutch government to effect such forced returns.

The Dutch government’s position is that, under certain circumstances, Somalis can be returned to areas under the control of al-Shabaab, an Islamist armed group with links to Al-Qaeda. Amnesty International considers it dangerous, irresponsible and in violation of international law to attempt to return, or compel Somalis to return, to areas under al-Shabaab control. 

The Netherlands’ repeated attempts to argue for the forcible return of Somalis to areas controlled by the Islamist armed group al-Shabaab exposes them to grave risks of human rights abuses and would be a blatant violation of international law, Amnesty International said in a new briefing published today. 

The Dutch government has insisted that Somalis can be forcibly sent to the most perilous areas of the country, including those where al-Shabaab is responsible for unlawful killings, torture and ill-treatment.

“For some Somalis, being returned to al-Shabaab-controlled areas is akin to being handed a death sentence,” said L. Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. 

“By sending Somalis to volatile areas where their lives are in danger, the Dutch government is also responsible for the human rights abuses they face on their return.” 

International law requires that states do not return people to areas where their lives or freedoms are at real risk, such as certain situations of armed conflict. 

Amnesty International has called on other governments including Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway and Saudi Arabia to end their policy of returning Somalis to south and central Somalia.

The briefing Forced returns to south and central Somalia, including to Al-Shabaab areas: a blatant violation of international law highlights the grave risks faced by civilians in Somalia.

Amnesty International has received numerous reports of Somalis being accused of spying by armed groups, leading in many cases to retribution - including killings. Many Somalis fear returning to areas not only controlled by al-Shabaab, but also to areas where the armed group has a presence, including Mogadishu.

The briefing includes testimonies of human rights violations people have faced upon return, such as Fartuun, 25, whose uncle was killed in August 2013 shortly after returning from Yemen. 

“He was captured the day he returned home. Al-Shabaab soldiers took him away and held him captive. After five days, they brought him in front of the stadium and beheaded him in front of people. After, they left him outside with his head on his stomach. He was there for one week,” Fartuun told Amnesty International.

In Mogadishu and other areas of south and central Somalia, people continue to be killed and wounded in crossfire during armed clashes and by suicide attacks, grenade attacks and by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Ongoing military operations throughout 2014 have led to an increase in violence against civilians.  

In November 2013, the Netherlands flouted international law and forcibly returned 26-year-old Ahmed Said, who had left Somalia more than 20 years earlier, to Mogadishu - a city he said he had never visited. 

Three days later he was wounded along with numerous others in a suicide attack that killed at least six people. 

“All countries have a responsibility to protect people who are at risk of serious human rights abuses if returned to their countries, rather than sending them back into the lion’s den,” Wanyeki said.

“Not only is it dangerous and irresponsible to put people’s lives at risk in this way, but states are in flagrant violation of their obligations when they do.”

The Netherlands recently scheduled a meeting of its Parliament and Migration Minister to discuss its policy of returning failed asylum seekers to areas under al-Shabaab control.

In May 2014, the United Nations Secretary-General urged all countries providing refuge to Somalis fleeing conflict to comply with their obligations under international law and not to return them forcibly to Somalia, where their lives could be at risk.

Calabrian prize honours Somali human rights activist

From: Italianinsider

COSENZA – “From culture comes the inspiration to pursue freedom,” said judge Marinella Rocca, as she congratulated prize-winner Dr Hawa Abdi at the 8^th annual Mediterranean Culture Prize hosted by the Carical Foundation.

The magnificent prize ceremony held at the Rendano Theatre in the heart of the historic centre of Cosenza celebrates culture across eight categories. This year’s prize highlighted outstanding work across the Mediterranean with winners from Somalia, Croatia and Spain, and also emphasised Calabrian and Italian contributions to the region. 

Local-born winner Vincenzo Linarello has been an ambassador for Calabria worldwide for many years in his work to help the unemployed in the region to find jobs in reinvigorating traditional Calabrian industries. Accepting his prize, he said “In Calabria we need to be proud of our roots, we have one of the richest cultures of all Italy.”
Organisers involved local young people in the awards by asking high school classes to judge the Youth Literature Prize, which was awarded to debut novelist Daniele Bresciani for “Ti volevo dire” (“I wanted to tell you”). 

He spoke of the importance of having faith in the younger generation in his acceptance speech. Representatives from the nine high school classes appeared on stage to speak of the difficulties they had in choosing a winner, and to congratulate Mr Bresciani.
For the main Literature prize, Spanish author Clara Usón won for her historical fiction novel “The Daughter.”

Croatian translator Mladen Machiedo was honoured for his work in bringing Italian literature to a wider audience through his translations. The judges acknowledged the vital nature of this work given the fact that Italian is not an international trade language, and therefore it is more difficult to ensure that the country’s culture is diffused. 

A recurrent theme across the evening was good and evil, and in particular the choices that we face between them. Winner of the information prize, La Stampa journalist Domenico Quirico, was kidnapped in Syria and held hostage for five months in 2013. In his speech, he spoke of the absolute lack of choice for people in war zones. He said, “In these places people do evil things in order to not be killed, there, everyday life is suffering and pain.”

Meanwhile the winner of the Human Sciences prize, Spanish philosopher Fernando Sarater, reflected on what it means to live and make choices in the Western world, he quoted Sartre, “Man is condemned to be free, because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.”

The undisputed guest of honour was Somali human rights activist Dr Hawa Abdi, whose small women’s health clinic swelled to a 400-bed hospital. With the arrival of war, the land surrounding the hospital eventually became one of the largest refugee camps in the country.

An extract was read from Dr Abdi’s memoir “Keeping Hope Alive” in which she bravely talked down a band of militants who attempted to take control of the camp. When asked what significance international recognition had for her, Dr Abdi replied in Italian, “It gives me the strength to carry on my work.”

Somali Journalists illegally detained and refused legal representation by Kenyan Police

From: Mareeg

We call on the Kenyan police to immediately and unconditionally release Mahad Omar Diriye secretary General of (JIJA) a local journalist organization and a freelance to IRINnews, and formerly Somaliareport.com and Hassan Sheikh Omar who was the news anchor of Horn Cable TV and a vibrant figure among exiled journalists in Kenya. They are among several journalists who were the victims of recent police arrests in Nairobi. Our colleagues are notably among hundreds of Somali journalists in search of security.  

Hassan was detained on 25/04/2014 and Mahad a day before after security agents involving a search in the Somali neighborhood Eastliegh picked them up. According to their relatives, the two presented their press cards and UNHCR identification documents to the police but they were denied and arrested. Both were held in separate operations—without charges or access to a lawyer.

The illegal detention and denying them access to a lawyer and freedom is an infringement of their fundamental human rights while these journalists were forced to leave their country after they were threatened or fatally escaped death in Somalia. Said Mohamed Garane himself a former exiled journalist himself.

We are concerned about Mahad’s health condition. He has been diagnosed with symptoms of serious stomach ulcers and referred to specialized medical care the day before he was detained by the police. The journalists are being held in a cell in Nairobi with more than hundreds of inmates.

We know that some of the arrested colleagues’ equipment were confiscated including mobile telephones, cameras and laptops. A large number of other Somali journalists in Kenya are in hiding and can be the next target of this ongoing swoop by the Kenyan Police.

We the Somali journalists worldwide are dedicated to supporting our colleagues, we call on you to use the mandate of your office to help us fight for the fundamental human rights of these journalists to ensure the two are not deported to Somalia because we believe if they are deported back to Somalia or pushed back to the refugees, that will surely be the end of their lives.

With no peace in our country, and being the deadliest country in Africa for journalists with murders, physical attacks, arrests and kidnappings – life is a nightmare for the few journalists working in Somalia. Those of us the qualified journalists who fled to Europe, Austria and the United States enjoy fundamental democratic and human rights values. 

But there are still hundreds of others who remain in fragile situations like Kenya and have no means to raise their voices democratically to protest against what is happening to them. So i represent these journalists and can be reached for interviews on their conditions or any sort of help to release them on 0032485831089 or by mailmgarane@gmail.com

Somali man hailing from the Ogaden province endure torture and abuse in Hargeisa

From: waabarinews

A 23-year-old young man was apprehended in South Hargeisa district of Jama wayne in April 26,2014 after allegedly accused of being a member of Ogaden National Liberation Front or ONLF sympathizer by the security of Somaliland Administration. The young man, Mohammed Sheik Ahmed aka Mo’alin Biliq was on two weeks visit on his mother’s uncle who hails from that area.

“They (the Security police) started beating him with clubs. When he fell down and the people in the area congregated, the security officer leading the assailants shouted that this man was a terrorist from the Ogaden and started throwing stones at him”, said Mr.Ahmed’s family,who declined to be named for their security concerns.

The crowd took a cue from his action and soon a crowd of about fifty people started stoning the victim. Mr. Ahmed endured hours of beating before he became unconscious.

“After he was mutilated and became unconscious, the security threw him on the Toyota pick up and took him to an unknown destination. Mr M. Ahmed was visiting his uncle on his mother’s side who hail from that area”,added his family.

The fate of the victim left unknown whether he died, extradited to Ethiopia as usual or in a jail only the Somaliland Police could confirm,According to Ahmed’s family. Somaliland shares Somalis from Ogaden region, like any other Somali speaking inhabitants,language,culture,ethnicity, religion and even border,but favored Ethiopia over Ogadenis and has been repeatedly handing over Somalis From Ogaden region to Ethiopian Security forces over the past 10 years,that have been detained, tortured,executed in this way or coerced into confessing or naming family members accused of supporting the Liberation movement, The Ogaden National Liberation Front,who were in return arrested,tortured and killed.

“This is an inhumane act that is against Somali culture, Muslim values and international human rights. The Somaliland administration, which touts itself in front of the international community as a viable state that respects the rule of law and respects the rights of civilians is continually violating the rights of Somali people from the Ogaden,who share with the people in that area blood ties, common religion, culture and economy in deference to the Ethiopian criminal regime, which has instructed the warlords in Somalia to hand over to Ethiopia all that hail from the Ogaden clan to Ethiopia,” said Amina Abdi,the Secretary of Justice for Ogaden.

“The Somaliland administration are reguested without much response up-to now to give medical treatment and release him urgently. Moreover, the continuing violations of the Human Rights of Ogaden in Somaliland continues and may create dire consequences between the two communities, which share long border and economic ties, unless the wayward administration takes effective action to remedy the situation”,said Ms. Abdi

US demands Ethiopia provide Human Rights Groups access to the Somali region

From: Hiiraan

Somalis from Ogaden region of Ethiopia has finally been heard by the international community. The United States, the United Kingdom as well as the EU Parliament have in the recent past openly expressed their concerns over alleged humanitarian crisis in the African country.

The U. S House of Representatives has asked Ethiopia to provide human rights and humanitarian organizations with free access to its Somali region of Ogaden.The U. S. said Ethiopia must make sure that funds available for assistance of its military and police forces are not used unless the Secretary of State certifies to the Committees on Appropriations that Ethiopia's government is implementing policies to protect basic human rights like freedom of expression, assembly and religion.

The U. S. Congress declared, "That Funds shall not be made available unless the Secretary of State certifies Ethiopia is implementing policies to protect judicial independence; freedom of expression, association, assembly, and religion; the right of political opposition parties, civil society organizations.The world power also asked Ethiopia to make sure that human rights and humanitarian organizations are provided free access to the Somali region of the country and journalists are allowed to operate without any harassment or interference.

Anna Gomes, the EU's head of International Unit Party, pointed out that Ethiopia is one of the largest humanitarian and development aid receiver but it is using donations improperly and dishonestly.Human Rights Groups like Amnesty International and Genocide Watch have been accusing Ethiopia Government of committing brutal crimes against humanity in Ogaden region.

IFJ Condemns Killing of Media Worker in Mogadishu, Clampdown on Critical Media in Somaliland

From: IFJ 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the murder of a media worker in Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu, yesterday, Sunday 21 April. According to IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ),Mohamed Omar Mohamed, known as Amaar, an advertising and marketing staff at Radio Dalsan, was shot dead yesterday afternoon at the Mogadishu’sBakara Market. His killers, who escaped from the scene, shot him severaltimes, the NUSOJ has reported.

“This cowardly murder is a way to intimidate media professionals and journalists from freely exercising their duties. We call on authorities in Somalia to investigate this case and all crimes against the killings of journalists and to take every step necessary to end the impunity for violence and the country’s media personnel. The safety of media professionals must be a priority,” said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa Director. It is still unknown who carried out the murder as no group has claimed responsibility.

The leadership of the NUSOJ has called for an immediateinvestigation to be held.  “We denounce the murder of Mohamed Omar Mohamed and call upon the authorities to carry out urgent investigations that will shed light on the motives behind this killing and bring the perpetrators into justice,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. The IFJ has repeatedly warned authorities in Somalia that the safety of journalists and media workers must be a priority. Journalists in Somalia have been targeted again and again while reporting on issues in the public interest in their country. 

In a separate incident in the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland, the IFJhas also condemned the clampdown on critical media, in particular theinternet. The NUSOJ has reported that the Somaliland administration has taken the decision to intensify its campaign to suppress and intimidate Haatufnewspaper by blocking access to its news site www.haatuf.net after it closed down the newspaper on 7 April 2014.

The IFJ has joined the NUSOJ in stating that the blockage is the latest evidence of what independent media see as a clampdown on critical media and particularly the Internet, a platform for disseminating views. According to NUSOJ, the banning of the news website, which also targeted Haatuf’s sister paper www.somalilandtimes.net, was reportedly ordered by Hargeisa’s Marodi Jeeh Regional Court on 16 April and internet service providers were ordered to carry out the action. 

“We call on authorities to unblock Haatuf and the Somaliland Times websites,” said Baglo.    “This internet censorship violates the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom of information of the people of Somaliland,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

Human Rights Center holds press conference on closed newspapers

From: HRC

Human Rights Centre (HRC) today held press conference in Hargeisa. The Centre strongly condemned the closure of Hubaal, Haatuf and Somaliland Times, three independent newspapers based in Hargeisa Somaliland. It also denounced the detention of five journalists arrested in Las’anood the administrative capital of Sool region, east of Somaliland. 

The five journalists were detained yesterday, 20th April 2014 and released today, 21st April 2014. Ms Mulaho Mohamed Ali, the spokesperson of HRC said “the manner which the Police followed to suspend the papers is against the law. The independent media is important pillar and shall not be oppressed. The freedom of press is guaranteed by the constitution of Somaliland and the international human rights.”

The newspapers were not given the opportunity to defend themselves before the courts as required by the law, she added. Mawlid Farah Mouse, a lawyer and member of HRC, stressed the illegality of the closure of the papers. Mawlid said that Hubaal was closed at 13th December 2013 while Haatuf andSomaliland Times were shut down at 7th April. The manner in which the three papers were suspended was the same. Police raided and closed without any court hearing. 

He raised serious concern on the actions of the government against the media. The constitution upholds independent media that exercises freedoms without fear and subjugation, says Mawlid. Ahmed Hussein Abdi, member of HRC, called upon the government of Somaliland to, immediately lift the suspension of Hubaal, Haatuf and Somaliland Times. He further demanded the judiciary to exercise the impartiality and the independence provided by the constitution.

Somaliland Authorities arrest 3 Journalists in Las-Anod for Attending Rival regional State Conference

From: Scoop

MOGADISHU, Somalia, April 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns in the strongest terms possible the act of suppression, arbitrary arrests, threats and intimidations against the media by the Somaliland authorities, following the arbitrary arrests of three journalists in the disputed town of Las-Anod town, the latest in a string of violence against the journalists and the media in Somaliland. 

Somaliland police arrested Abdiqani Goox, a correspondent of a privately owned Somalisat Television based in London and two freelances namely Ali Yusuf Ahmed and Abdirashid Aideed on Sunday 20 April, 2014 at the disputed town of Las-Anod, local media reported. According to deputy police commissioner of Las-Anod, Ahmed Abdi Gelle told the local media that the journalists were arrested for attending a rival conference that threats its peace and security. 

 The Secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim called on the Somaliland authorities to stop the media crackdown it is currently undertaking and expressed his outrage against the arrests of the three journalists and demanded their unconditional release. On 07 April, 2014, Somaliland police stormed the offices of Haatuf newspaper in Hargeysa, following the orders of the regional court – after the newspaper published a series of articles accusing senior officials of corruption allegations. In February, Somaliland Authorities suspended the operations of the privately owned Universal Television, after accusing the television for insulting its president. 

Police raided and closed indefinitely the daily Hubaal on December 13 following a court order that claimed the publication promoted insecurity in the nation. Both newspapers are still shut down. 

Swedish Ambassador Meets with Haatuf Media Network Chairman

From: Somalilandtimes

The Swedish ambassador to Somalia, Mikael Lindvall, who is based in Kenya and whose writ also covers Somaliland, met with the publisher of Haatuf Media Network, Yusuf Abdi Gaboobe, the Somali language newspaper Geeska reported. Asked by the media about the substance of their conversation, Mr Gabobe said Sweden is one of the countries that supports the democratic process in Somaliland and we discussed the government’s takeover of Haatuf Media Network and the difficulties facing the independent press in Somaliland. 

Mr Gabobe added that he told the ambassador the reason for Haatuf’s closure without due process was because it wrote about the corruption in the government and that the government is trying to silence the independent media as evidenced by its closure of two newspapers within a few months. In response to a question about the ambassador’s reaction, Mr Gabobe said the ambassador seemed to be well-informed and was tasked by his government to find out what was going on with regard to Somaliland’s media. 

Ambassador Mikael Lindvall told Yusuf Abdi Gabobe that the suppression of the free press was unacceptable and his government will relay its thoughts on this subject to Somaliland’s government. Yusuf Abdi Gabobe also told Geeska newspaper that several international organizations and countries have contacted him and expressed their displeasure with the suspension of Haatuf and the Somaliland Times.

Kenya: Crackdown on Somali refugees unlawful

From: Amnesty international

Somali refugees and asylum-seekers living in Kenya are being trapped in a catch-22 situation by the government’s counter-terrorism crackdown, Amnesty International said as thousands of Somalis continued to be rounded up by security forces in Nairobi. Registration of Somali refugees in Kenya has been largely halted since 2011, preventing many who should qualify for refugee status from obtaining papers. 

Without these they could be returned to Somalia, where they may be at risk of human rights abuses.“Thousands of unregistered Somali refugees and asylum-seekers are in an impossible situation: they face arrest and deportation because they are not registered, but it is extremely difficult for them to register,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy Regional Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme. “The Kenyan government is punishing refugees and asylum-seekers for being in a legal limbo that it has created, while showing no consideration for their human rights.”

Somali refugees told Amnesty International they had faced intimidation, beatings and unlawful detention at the hands of security forces conducting house-to-house searches in predominantly Somali neighbourhoods over the past week. Ahmed, 26, who was taken from his home to the Kasarani football stadium to have his papers checked on 7 April, said: “They came to my house in the middle of the night and demanded my papers. My ID had expired. They said ‘this is not real ID’ so they beat and kicked me and then took me to Kasarani.” 

Unregistered asylum-seekers are at particular risk, though people with valid papers have also been arbitrarily detained, threatened and mistreated. Mohamed, who was arrested on 6 April near Eastleigh, a predominantly Somali area of Nairobi, told Amnesty International: “Four policemen stopped me and asked for my ID. I showed them my refugee card; they said it meant nothing. They demanded 35,000 KSh ($400 US) from me. When I didn’t have it, they told me I was al-Shabab and forced me to go with them.”  He was detained at the Kasarani stadium, where many refugees have been taken for screening, before being moved to a police station overnight. The following day he was released along with 47 others, but he now has no ID. 

“When they brought us back to Eastleigh they didn’t give me my refugee mandate back. They told me to come back the next day to Kasarani, but when I went I was told to come back another time,” he said.

Refugees and asylum-seekers without IDs are at high risk of arrest and detention. Though Mohamed is legally in Kenya, he is unable to move around freely for fear of arrest.  “I didn’t sleep last night. Now I don’t have an ID, if they arrest me right now, I have nothing to show,” he said.  

Anti-terror operation

The Kenyan government has been carrying out a large-scale anti-terror operation called Rudisha Usalama (“restore peace”) since 2 April, arresting more than 4,000 people throughout the country, mainly from the Somali community. “Such blanket arrests are discriminatory and arbitrary. Marginalizing entire communities is not the way to deal with insecurity, and may well cause further insecurity,” Michelle Kagari said. 

The government crackdown on refugees has escalated since Kenya’s Secretary of Interior, Ole Lenku, issued a directive on 26 March ordering all refugees to move to run-down and overcrowded camps in northern Kenya. This followed a similar government directive in December 2012, which was quashed by Kenya’s High Court in July 2013. The Court said relocation to the camps would violate refugees’ dignity and freedom of movement and risks indirectly forcing them back to Somalia. The Court also ruled that the Kenyan government had not proved that the move would help protect national security.

The current crackdown is not only in breach of the High Court judgement, but has also been implemented unlawfully.  Ibrahim, a Somali elder in Eastleigh, told Amnesty International: “The way they’re treating people is forcing people to go back to Somalia.” Amnesty International’s report published in February, No Place Like Home: Returns and Relocations of Somalia’s Displaced, documented how widespread intimidation and lack of respect for human rights are forcing Somali refugees out of Kenya. 

On 9 April, the Somali embassy in Nairobi said that Kenya had deported 82 Somalis to Mogadishu. More are expected to be deported in the coming days. “These deportations to a volatile security situation in Somalia may well amount to refoulement,” said Michelle Kagari. “Forcibly returning people to places where their lives or freedoms are at risk would violate international refugee law, which Kenya is bound to respect.”

EU Holds Discussion on Ethiopian Human Rights Crisis in Ogaden and Kality Prison

From: Tesfanews

EUROPEAN Parliament opened hearing about the Ogaden Human Rights violations and the Ethiopian prisons in Addis Ababa. The hearing, which was invited to participate in the Ogaden whistle-blower, Abdullahi Hussein, and Swedish Journalist, Martin Schibbye, was held on April 2nd by the group the progressive Alliance of Socialist and Democrats in European Parliament and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). 

“Ethiopia is one of the largest humanitarian and development aid receiver yet these donations are used incorrectly and corruptly. Western governmental Organizations and Western Embassies to Addis Ababa ignored the stolen donations and humanitarian aid that are being used as a political tool by the Ethiopian regime, which is contrary to EU rules on the funding”, said Anna Gomes, MEP Head of international Unit party Socialist democrat. 

Ahmed Abdi Marita Ulvskog, MEP, in her part first thanked Abdullahi Hussein and Swedish Journalist, Martin Schibbye speaking about the steps needed to be taken in order to stop the human rights abuses that is being committed against Ethiopian and Ogaden civilians, she said that the EU could use sanctions or words against Ethiopia or follow up documents and information like the one provided by Abdullahi Hussein to show the reality in the ground. 

Abdullahi Hussein, who is the former regional Presidential adviser and head of the media in Ogaden presented a shocking footage that changed the EU’s view towards Ethiopia. Abdullahi Hussein, who gained the title of “brave man” and nominated for the prize of Sweden’s civil courage of the year 2014, “Antigone Award”, after he had put himself at risk for smuggling out over 100 hours of footage from the Ogaden Province requested the EU to put their words into action as the killings, gang-raping and extrajudicial arresting still continues. 

Speaking with Ogaden diaspora owned TV service of Ilays Tv, Martin Schibbye stated that in conjunction with Abdullahi Hussein their purpose to reset was to tell the World what they had seen which is to fulfill a promise that he made to many people from Ogaden region, but also their co-prisoners in Kality Prison of Addis Ababa. Members of European Parliament, CPJ’s Jean Paul Marthoz and Human Rights’s Leslie Lefkow have also explained the human rights situation in Ethiopia in details to the EU Parliament. Anna Lindy, Chair of the hearing, presented the human rights situation in Ogaden and Ethiopia at the opening time of the session.

                                                              

Hrw: Halt Crackdown on ethnic Somalis in Kenya

 From: Hrw

Kenyan police and other security agencies should stop arbitrary arrests and detentions, extortion, and other abuses against Somalis during security operations,  Human Rights Watch said today. The government should also halt summary deportations and ensure that any undocumented Somalis are given the opportunity to file asylum claims.

On April 4 and 8, 2014, Human Rights Watch visited Pangani police station in Eastleigh and found hundreds of detainees packed into cells designed to accommodate 20 people. Detainees had no room to sit, and the cells were filthy with urine and excrement. Police were also holding detainees beyond the 24-hour limit proscribed under Kenyan law, without taking them to court. One man at Pangani station complained to Human Rights Watch that he had been held for eight days without being taken to court.

“Scapegoating and abusing Somalis for heinous attacks by unknown people is not going to protect Kenyans, Somalis, or anyone else against more attacks,” said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Kenya’s deportation of Somalis to their conflict-ridden country without allowing them to seek asylum would be a flagrant breach of its legal obligations.”

Since April 2, almost 4,000 people are reported to have been arrested and detained in Nairobi and Mombasa. According to Human Rights Watch research, some of the detainees have been released after they produced identification documents, but only after days in deplorable detention conditions or after they paid bribes. On April 9, the Kenyan authorities summarily deported 82 undocumented Somali nationals from the capital, Nairobi, to Somalia. Kenyan officials have said that they plan to deport all undocumented Somali nationals as part of the response to recent grenade and other attacks in Kenya by unidentified people.

The Kenyan government began a massive security operation in Nairobi’s predominantly Somali Eastleigh district on April 2. On April 9, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku told the media that, during “Operation Usalama Watch,” police had arrested “almost 4,000 people.” An Administration Police spokesman, Masoud Mwinyi, said police had arrested and screened 3,000 people of whom 467 had been detained for further investigation. He said police had also charged 67 people with various unspecified offenses.

According to Kenyan officials, the operation began in response to a number of attacks in Nairobi and Mombasa in March that killed a total of 12 people and injured 8 more. An attack on a Nairobi shopping mall in September 2013 killed 67 people and injured hundreds.

Kenyan police operations in Nairobi and Mombasa in the wake of attacks have resulted on numerous occasions in serious human rights violations against both refugees and Kenyan citizens, Human Rights Watch said.

In the Pangani police station, Human Rights Watch witnessed police whipping, beating, and verbally abusing detainees. There have been numerous credible accounts of Kenyan security forces extorting money and beating people during the arrests and in detention. 

Hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people have also been detained in the Kasarani sports stadium in Nairobi. Independent investigators and media were denied access to Kasarani until April 9, when a limited visit was permitted. People who participated said that they were only provided limited access and were not able to freely interview detainees in the stadium.

On April 8, Lenku said, “The process will continue until we do not have illegal aliens and those found to have refugees documents are taken to refugees camps.”

Kenyan security forces, including the Administration Police and General Service Unit (GSU) have a  record of committing serious human rights violations during security operations against communities of ethnic Somalis, Human Rights Watch said.

A May 2013 Human Rights Watch report described how Kenyan police in Nairobi tortured, raped, and otherwise abused and arbitrarily detained at least 1,000 refugees, including women and children, between mid-November 2012 and late January 2013, following grenade and other attacks in Eastleigh. The police called the refugees “terrorists” and said they should move to the refugee camps.

“For the second time in less than two years, the world is looking on aghast as Kenyan security forces abuse countless men, women, and children alike in the heart of Kenya, just a stone’s throw from government ministries and the United Nations,”  Simpson said.

The police sweeps follow an announcement on March 26 that all urban refugees were required to move to refugee camps. Such a move would violate a July 26, 2013 Kenyan High Court ruling, which quashed an identical government refugee relocation plan from December 2012.

According to credible sources, some Somali refugees arrested in Eastleigh in the April operation were released with an order to report to the refugee camps within two weeks.

On April 9, Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya told journalists that Kenya had deported 82 Somali nationals to Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

Kenya should stop summarily deporting Somali nationals, which risks violating its obligations under Kenyan and international law not to return anyone to situations of persecution or generalized violence. Any undocumented individuals should be given the opportunity to file an application for asylum, Human Rights Watch said.

The Kenyan government should provide full access to staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to interview and register asylum claims of undocumented Somalis.

In January, the United Nations refugee agency issued guidelineson returns to Somalia and called on countries not to return anyone before interviewing them and ensuring they do not face the threat of persecution or other serious harm if returned. UNHCR said that Somalia remains “a very dangerous place” and that no Somali national should be “forcibly returned to Somalia unless the returning state is convinced that the persons involved would not be at risk of persecution.”

Human Rights Watch said the Kenyan authorities were obliged to allow UNHCR to register asylum claims from anyone in Kenya, regardless of how long the person had been in Kenya before lodging a claim. Although Kenyan refugee law says an asylum seeker should lodge their claim with the authorities within 30 days of arrival, UNHCR does not impose any such deadline. Somali nationals’ access to UNHCR is all the more important after Kenya suspended all services to urban refugees, including registering new asylum seekers, in December 2012.

Kenyan immigration law allows the authorities to regulate who is in Kenya, and Kenya may prevent certain categories of people from entering or remaining in the country, including those deemed to be a security threat.

However, Kenyan and international law prohibit refoulement – forcible return to persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, or to a situation where a person would be at real risk of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Kenya is also prohibited from returning anyone to a place where their “life, physical integrity, or liberty would be threatened on account of external aggression, occupation, foreign domination, or events seriously disturbing public order.”

In its January 2014 guidelines, UNHCR said that it “consider[s] the options for Somalis to find protection from persecution or serious harm within Southern and Central Somalia to be limited,” especially in the large areas that remain under the control of the Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab has continued to forcibly recruit people into its ranks, including children, and to target individuals perceived to support the Somali government and its partners. On March 5, al-Shabaab publicly executed three alleged spies in Barawe, one of the group’s strongholds.

UNHCR also noted an increase in al-Shabaab attacks in 2013 in Mogadishu that killed civilians. Conflict related injuries in Mogadishu and the southern port town of Kismayo also increased in early 2014.

According to UNHCR, 1.1 million people are currently displaced within Somalia, including 369,000 in Mogadishu. In a March 2013 report, Human Rights Watch found that members of state security forces and armed groups had raped, beaten, and otherwise mistreated displaced Somalis in Mogadishu.A February 2014 Human Rights Watch report documented high levels of rapeand sexual abuse against displaced women and girls in the capital throughout 2013.

In other parts of south-central Somalia, a joint military offensive by the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) against al-Shabaab has resulted in new internal displacement, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Foreign donors to Kenya and UNHCR should vigorously and publicly oppose summary deportations of Somalis, Human Rights Watch said.

“Kenya’s summary deportation of Somali nationals should end,” Simpson said. “Undocumented people should be given the opportunity to file an asylum application rather than being summarily deported back to the dangers of south-central Somalia.”

NUSOJ condemns closure of independent media in Somaliland

From:  NUSOJ

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is outrageous by the closure of the Haatuf Newspaper offices in Hargeysa by the Somaliland police and urges the authorities to re-open the publication.

Somaliland police stormed the offices of Haatuf newspaper in Hargeysa on Monday 07 April, 2014, following the orders of the regional court - accusing the newspaper for publishing false news - prompting the journalists on duty to flee, according to media reports. 

The National Union of Somali Journalists is outrageous by the raid of the newspaper offices and condemns the act in the strongest terms possible and calls for the Somaliland authorities to allow the resumption of the newspaper without any conditions. "Journalists have the right to expose the truth in the interest of the public and any act to silence them is a severe violation." Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "The authorities must allow the newspaper to resume its operations and stop the media intimidations." In February, Somaliland Authorities suspended the operations of the privately owned Universal Television, after accusing the television for insulting its president.

NUSOJ Welcomes Release of Somali journalist

 From: AllAfrica

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) Tuesday (April 1st) welcomed the release of Sky FM news presenter Nuradin Hassan Shardi, who was taken into custody Sunday. "He was released without charges and the reason behind his arrest has not been made public as of today," NUSOJ said via Twitter. Mohamed Khalif Farah, chief inspector of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), told Shardi to report to the CID for questioning on Sunday, and upon arrival he was arrested, according to Director of Sky FM Mohamed Muse.

Muse said Shardi's arrest was related to his report on the missing passport of a British national who is an adviser to the prime minister. The report was aired on Sky FM, which is part of the Shabelle Media Network. "Somali authorities continually harass journalists who portray the government in a negative light," Committee to Protect Journalists East Africa representative Tom Rhodes said. "The unjustified arbitrary arrests against media workers is a direct threat to the freedom of expression guaranteed under the federal constitution of Somalia," NUSOJ Secretary General Mohamed Ibrahim said.

Somali broadcast journalist unlawfully arrested in Mogadishu

From: AIPS
With Somalia listed as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists to work in the world, the country’s federal police arrested a senior broadcast journalist in the capital Mogadishu on Sunday. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is protesting Sunday’s arrest of the broadcast journalist by the federal police.  Nuradin Hassan Ibrahim, editor of SkyFM Radio in Mogadishu, has been arrested at the Crimes Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Mogadishu, following a call to summon him from the officials.  Nuradin was then questioned on how his station had obtained news about a passport stolen from an official stationed at the Prime Minister’s office. Nuradin reportedly answered all the questions satisfactorily, but was arrested due to the influence of General Abdullahi Gafow, head of Immigration and Naturalization Services who lodged a complaint against SkyFM at the CID. “This amounts to physical intimidation of a journalist and appears to be in direct breach of Somalia’s provisional Constitution. It clearly demonstrates how journalists in Somalia are a soft target for the authorities who are supposed to uphold principles of rule of law, and a  respect for independent media to report without fear of retaliation,” said Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary General of NUSOJ. NUSOJ call on the Federal Police to immediately release Nuradin Hassan Ibrahim, and allow him to exercise his constitutional freedom as a citizen in general, and as a journalist in particular.  SkyFM is a sister station of Radio Shabelle, which has been subject to systematic abuses a number of times in the last couple of years.

Ethiopia: Eastern Africa journalist association urges Ethiopia to release jailed Somali Journalist

From: AllAfrica

The Ethiopian government should reverse the 27-year prison sentence handed down to veteran Somali journalist Mohamed Aweys Mudey in Addis Ababa, on trumped up terror charges, the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) said at the closing ceremony of its regional press freedom monitors workshop in Bujumbura, Burundi. EAJA supports its affiliate, the National Somali Journalists Union (NUSOJ), which has launched a petition to free Mohamed Aweys Mudey. He was sentenced at the end of February this year on charges of "terrorism" under Ethiopia' anti-terror law. Mudey is accused of having information about Al-Shabaab operations in Ethiopia and charged for participating in terror activities.

EAJA calls on Ethiopian authorities to reverse the sentence and release the journalist. "We back the campaign led by the National Union of Somali Journalists to free Mohamed Aweys Mudey and call on the government of Ethiopia to reverse this situation. We will fight for Mudey's release," said Alexandre Niyungeko, EAJA Secretary General. Niyungeko said EAJA is concerned with the case of the Somali journalist and others in the region, which point to a pattern of intimidation and harassment of journalists, adding this constituted a grave affront to press freedom in the region.

IFJ Backs Call to Free Somali Journalist Mohamed Aweys Mudey

From: IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today backed a call by its affiliate in Somalia, the National Union of Somali Journalists, to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn to free Somali journalist, Mohamed Aweys Mudey, found guilty under Ethiopia’s notoriously harsh anti-terror laws and sentenced to 27 years in jail. 

The call was made on the occasion of a summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Kampala, Uganda, which is attended by presidents and prime ministers from eight member states in East Africa.

The Prime Minister was sent by NUSOJ a petition signed by 24,000 supporters including journalists, writers and press freedom and human rights activists from 97 countries. Launched by NUSOJ, the petition, calling for the “immediate and unconditional release of Mudey,” received massive support in a matter of days, after being promoted by freedom of expression organisation IFEX and by the African Freedom of Expression exchange (AFEX).

"The petition was a major success for our union in Somalia which managed to motivate tens of thousands of people in support of Mohamed Mudey, said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. “It is heartening to see a small union taking up the cudgels in defence of one of their members against an authoritarian regime. I urge all our unions with members unjustly jailed to follow the lead of NUSOJ and join the IFJ campaigns to free journalists in prison."

NUSOJ Secretary General, Omar Faruk Osman, thanked all the organisations and activists who expressed solidarity with Mudey and said: “My union is overwhelmed by such a massive reaction from all over the world rejecting the charges and condemning the guilty verdict as well as the harsh sentence. Mohamed Aweys Mudey is not guilty of any crime.

  

“He has been persecuted and unjustly jailed because he is a journalist and he is a Somali. Ethiopian authorities should listen to the calls of these thousands of people and free Mudey”. NUSOJ’s campaigns for the right of Somali journalists received a boost after the African Commission on Human & People’s Rights (ACHPR), Africa’s top inter-governmental human rights body, agreed during its extraordinary session on 7-14 March, resolution 264 on attacks of journalists and media practitioners in Somalia.

The commission expressed concern “about the restrictions and intimidations against NUSOJ such as negative labelling, prosecution as well as physical harassment and intimidation of its members” and appealed for them to be ceased immediately. It also called on “the Somali authorities to respect, protect and promote the right to life, freedom of expression and freedom of association and assembly of journalists and media practitioners as provided in the African Charter and other international and regional human rights instruments”.