MOGADISHU, Somalia, 17 August, 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) vehemently denounces the egregious physical assault and unwarranted detention of journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, SJS Information and Human Rights Secretary, by unidentified plain-clothed individuals allegedly linked to national intelligence and the police in Mogadishu today.
Bulbul was participating in a class studies at Mogadishu University when several armed men, dressed in plain clothes, violently accosted him, brandishing firearms and subjecting him to physical aggression. After the assault, they forcibly transported him into an unmarked waiting vehicle resulting his disappearance. Hours later, he was located at the Hamar Jajab criminal investigation department (CID).
Bulbul was denied access to legal representation and communication with his family, as a police source informed SJS that Banadir police commander Mahdi Omar Muumin (known as Moalim Mahdi) had ordered his detention without a valid warrant.
This troubling incident occurred shortly after Bulbul’s investigative reportingexposed police officers’ claims of embezzlement of funds designated for junior Somali police officers attending a training seminar organized by the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP). The exposé was published by Kaab TV, where Bulbul serves as an editor.
During his illegal detention, Bulbul was reportedly subjected to interrogation by police officers led by head of the CID, Abdifatah Ali Hersi, all without the presence of legal counsel. Such actions constitute a flagrant violation of the law and a breach of Bulbul’s fundamental human rights, directly contravening the principles of a free and unimpeded media.
Simultaneously, the Somali Journalists Syndicate has been grappling with a series of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks since Friday last week, rendering the SJS websitetemporarily offline.
“We categorically condemn the physical assault on Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, our esteemed Information and Human Rights Secretary in Mogadishu today. The identities of the assailants are all too familiar, having been involved in previous attacks on the journalistic community,” said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary-General of SJS.
“We urgently call for the immediate release of our colleague and an end to the threats against him. Exposing allegations of corruption should never be construed as a criminal act, and no law police officer should be immune to accountability. Those responsible for the reprehensible assault and illegal detention of Mohamed Bulbul must be held answerable,” added Mumin.
“In addition, we demand a thorough inquiry into the ongoing cyber attacks targeting SJS platforms, as these constitute a clear instance of cybercrime aimed at undermining our vital efforts to safeguard press freedom and human rights,” Mumin concluded.