Maalinta Caalamiga ee Xog-helidda ah ayaa Bulbul la geeyay xabsiga

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September 28, 2023

Xoghayaha Warfaafinta iyo Xuquuqda Aadanaha Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Maxamed Ibraahim Bulbul. | PHOTO/ SJS.

MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya 28 Sebtembar, 2023 – Munaasabadda Maalinta Caalamiga ah ee Xog-helidda darteed, Ururka Suxufiyiinta Soomaaliyeed (SJS) wuxuu ka walaacsan yahay tallaabadii qasabka ah ee saraakiisha booliska iyo kuwa nabsdsugidda ay ku wareejiyeen, Maxamed Ibraahim Bulbul, Xoghayaha Warfaafinta iyo Xuquuqda Aadanaha SJS oo laga qaaday Saldhigga Booliiska Xamar Jajab, loona wareejiyay Xabsiga Dhexe ee Muqdisho maanta oo Khamiis ah 28 Sebtember.

Arrintaan murugada leh ayaa daba socota kadib markii garsooraha Maxkamadda Gobolka Banaadir uu Isniintii 25 Sebtembar diiday dhammaan eedeymihii 7-da ahaa ee uu Xafiiska Xeer Ilaaliyaha Qaranka ku soo oogay Bulbul kuwaasoo ku saleysnaa Xeerka Ciqaabta. Garsooraha, isagoo raacaya diidmo horudhac ah oo ay soo bandhigeen kooxda sharciga ee SJS, ayaa hoosta ka xarriiqay in saxaafaddu aysan ahayn dembi. Bulbul ayaa lagu hayay xabsi sharci darro ah oo aan loo ogoleyn wax xiriir ah tan iyo 17 Agoosto 2023 ka dib markii uu baahiyay warbixin daaha ka qaadday eedeymo musuqmaasuq oo ay ku lug leeyihiin booliska Soomaaliya ee ka qeyb qaadanayay tabobar ay taageeraysay hay’adda Midowga Yurub (EUCAP).

Ka dib tuuristii eedeymaha, waxaanu filaynay in Bulbul la sii daayo; si kastaba ha ahaatee, waa wax laga xumaado ah in shakhsiyaad gaar ah ay si joogto ah ugu xadgudbayaan xuquuqda Bulbul.

“Laga soo bilaabo Isniintii, ka dib markii garsooraha maxkamadda uu meesha ka saaray eedeymihii uu soo jeediyay Xafiiska Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud, ma jirto eedeymo rasmi ah oo ka dambeeyay. Waxaan filaynay in saaxiibkeen Bulbul la sii daayo. Waxa wax laga xumaado ah, iyadoo aan sharciga la tix-gelin, kuwa beegsanaya Bulbul waxay door bideen inay u geystaan hagardaamo, cagajugleyn iyo dhibaato,” ayuu yiri Xoghayaha Guud ee SJS Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, “Haddii ay wax macno ah leedahay, dhibaataynta Bulbul ee socota iyo u wareejintiisii maanta xabsiga ee lagu soo beegay Maalinta Caalamiga ah ee Helitaanka Macluumaadka waxay muujinaysaa mustaqbalka mugdiga ah ee xorriyadda saxaafadda ee Soomaaliya.”

“Waxaan si adag u cambaareyneynaa dhibaateynta joogtada ah iyo xarigga aan sharciga ahayn ee lagu hayo Maxamed Bulbul, kaasoo si gaar ah loogu bartilmaameedsaday shaqadiisa suxufinimo ee uu ku soo bandhigay musuqmaasuqa booliska darteed. Waxaanu dalbanaynaa in si degdeg ah oo shuruud la’aan ah lagu sii daayo Bulbul,” ayuu yiri Mr. Mumin.

In kasta oo ay jiraan cadaadis iyo hanjabaad joogto ah, SJS waxa ay ku adkaysanaysaa sida ay uga go’an tahay difaacidda xorriyadda saxaafadda iyo xorriyadda hadalka, iyada oo u aqoonsanaysa inay yihiin qaybaha muhiimka ah ee xuquuqaha aadanaha ee bulshadeena.

On IDUAI, SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights Mohamed Bulbul transferred to Mogadishu Prison despite charges being dismissed

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September 28, 2023

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SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul. | PHOTO Courtesy/SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia 28 September, 2023 – On the occasion of International Day for Universal Access to Information, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is alarmed by the forcible transfer of our colleague journalist, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, from Hamar Jajab police station to Mogadishu Central Prison by armed officers affiliated with the Somali police and the national intelligence on Thursday 28 September.

This troubling development follows after the judge at Banadir Regional Court on Monday, September 25, dismissed all the seven charges pressed by the Office of the Attorney General against Bulbul. The judge, in alignment with a preliminary objection presented by SJS legal team, underscored that journalism is not a crime. Bulbul, who is also SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, has been held incommunicado detention since 17 August 2023 after reporting allegation of corruption involving Somali police participating in the European Union Capacity Building (EUCAP) supported training.

Given the dismissal of the charges, we had anticipated Bulbul’s release; however, it is disheartening to observe that certain individuals are persistently subjecting our colleague to what appears to be unwarranted harassment.

“Since Monday, after the court judge dismissed the charges brought by the Attorney General, no official charges have been presented. We had anticipated our colleague Bulbul’s release. Regrettably, in disregard of the rule of law, those who are targeting Bulbul have opted to subject him to harassment, threats, and suffering,” said SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, “If it holds any significance, the ongoing persecution of Bulbul and his transfer to a maximum-security prison on International Day for Universal Access to Information signals a bleak future for press freedom in Somalia.”

“We vehemently condemn the ongoing harassment and unlawful incommunicado detention of Mohamed Bulbul, who is solely targeted for his journalism work in exposing police corruption. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of our colleague,” Mr. Mumin.

Despite the persistent persecution and threats, SJS remains steadfast in its commitment to championing press freedom and freedom of expression, recognizing them as essential components of our society’s human rights.

SJS Urges Banadir Regional Court to dismiss the case against Mohamed Bulbul and grant his freedom following rejection of charges

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September 26, 2023

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SJS Information and Human Rights Secretary, Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul. | PHOTO/SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia – 26 September, 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) calls for the Banadir Regional Court to secure the freedom of of SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul since the judge on Monday refused the charges brought by the Office of the Attorney General.

During his first court hearing on Monday, September 25, the Judge at the Banadir Regional Court accepted our lawyers’ preliminary objection, which asserts that journalism is not a criminal act and therefore all the charges brought by the Attorney General’s Office lacked validity. The Office of the Attorney General has leveled seven charges against Bulbul, citing Article 215 (Subversive or Anti-National Propaganda), Article 219 (Bringing the Nation or the State Into Contempt), Article 327 (Giving False Alarm to Authorities), Article 328 (Publication or Circulation of False, Exaggerated or Tendencious News Capable of Disturbing Public Order), Article 209 (Instigating Soldiers to Disobey the Law), Article 514 (Abusing the Credulity of the Public), and Article 71 (Punishment for Those Who Participate in an Offense/More than One Person Participating in an Offense).

These charges are founded on an outdated Somali Penal Code that contradicts the Somali Federal Provisional Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Attorney General’s Office presented email correspondence signed by a member of the European Union’s EUCAP staff, as well as two letters bearing the signatures of the Ministry of Information and Police Commander General Sulub Ahmed Firin in an attempt to implicate Bulbul. However, the judge has subsequently ordered the removal of charges based on the Penal Code, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime. The date for the second hearing is yet to be determined.

Bulbul, who is also a journalist covering for Kaab TV, was abducted from his university campus on August 17, 2023, a day after his news report exposed corruption allegations involving Somali police officers participating in a training seminar facilitated by the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP).

“Our colleague, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, remains in unlawful detention, despite the court’s rejection of charges brought by the Attorney General. He continues to be held incommunicado. We implore the court judges to investigate Bulbul’s unlawful detention and the torture he has endured as a violation of human rights. Those responsible for these actions must be held accountable,” said SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

“Since yesterday, there has been mounting pressure on the court judge, and threats against our lawyers have escalated. Police Commander General Sulub Ahmed Firin, Deputy Attorney General Yahye Mohamud Said, and Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Al-Adaala must cease their reprehensible actions against Bulbul and our legal team. They should be aware that their actions may constitute human rights violations and a denial of justice for Bulbul,” Mr. Mumin added.

Legal Counsels File Complaint Against Somali Government to UN HRC On Behalf of SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Mumin

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September 15, 2023

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SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin. | PHOTO/SJS.

MOGADISHU, Somalia / Washington, U.S 15 September, 2023 – Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) have submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee for the case of SJS Secretary-General and human rights defender, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

Mumin is a renowned journalist who was thrice arbitrarily arrested, detained, and tortured by Somali state security forces in reprisal for his work, often critical of the Somali government. Abdalle Mumin worked as a freelancer as well as for international news outlets, including the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal. Through his role as the Secretary General of the SJS, Abdalle advocates for press freedom, journalists’ rights, and an enabling civic space in Somalia.

In October 2022, Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) officers detained Abdalle Mumin without a warrant after he refused to retract a press statement expressing concerns that a directive from Somalia’s Ministry of Information, which “prohibited dissemination of extremism ideology messages,” could restrict legitimate free expression. Following his arrest, Mumin was arbitrarily detained in abhorrent conditions, where he was deprived of food and clean water and subjected to lengthy interrogations about his statements criticizing the government policy. He was rearrested later that month when he attempted to travel to Kenya to seek medical care for the injuries he sustained in detention.

In February 2023, NISA officers arbitrarily arrested Mumin for a third time and threatened to kill him if he resisted. He was again detained and tortured by officers who beat him with their guns, threatened to kill him, and deprived him of food and water. For 33 days, the Somali government held Mumin in an overcrowded prison cell where he continued to suffer harassment and physical assault by the prison guards. Today, Abdalle Mumin is still dealing with the significant physical and mental health impacts of his repeated detention and ill-treatment.

“Abdalle Mumin is a fearless human rights defender who has partnered with us at RFK Human Rights to advocate for the protection of other journalists in Somalia. Instead of heeding his call, the Government retaliated against him and subjected him to gruesome mistreatment hoping to silence him. We are inspired by Abdalle’s grit and sustained passion for human rights and urge the authorities to cease and desist from stifling dissent in Somalia,” said Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

The complaint establishes that Somalia violated several of Mumin’s rights, including his right to freedom of expression, by highlighting the connection between the actions taken by Somali state officials and his activities as a journalist and human rights defender. It states that the arbitrary arrests, detention, and torture he experienced were intended to have both a punitive and deterrent impact on Mumin and his journalistic and advocacy activities. It further adds that silencing Abdalle Mumin creates a broader chilling effect on other journalists and civil society, which imperils an informed public and a functioning democracy.

These activities by Somali authorities are part of a pattern and practice of attempting to silence journalists and other activists critical of the Government. In February 2020, Somali journalist and human rights defender Mohamed Abdiwahab Nuur (“Abuuja”) was detained and tortured in retaliation for an editorial he published three days earlier criticizing Somali security forces for engaging in threats and intimidation against Somali citizens. After enduring a second arrest and detention lasting several months, Mr. Nuur was finally released in August 2020. Due to the “extremely serious” nature of the case, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion declaring Mr. Nuur’s arrest and detention to be arbitrary and in violation of international law.

Despite this censure, Somalia continues to arbitrarily arrest and detain journalists when they express criticism of the Government. In August 2023, plainclothes individuals appearing to be linked to Somali national security forces violently arrested and detained Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul, Secretary of Information and Human Rights at SJS, after he exposed corruption among Somali police officers. Meanwhile, ongoing cyber attacks continue to target SJS platforms.

“We are pleased to collaborate with the legal counsels from RFK Human Rights in the submission to the UN Human Rights Council. This submission pertains to the alarming circumstances surrounding the abduction-style detention, persecution, torture, and ill-treatment endured by our Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, at the hands of Somali authorities in Mogadishu,” Mohamed Ibrahim, President of SJS said. “Abdalle Mumin is not only the most senior and prominent journalist but also a leader actively championing human rights. Those who targeted and subjected him to persecution must be held accountable. We eagerly anticipate the UN Human Rights Council’s intervention in this case, sending a clear message that those who pose threats to journalists like Abdalle Mumin will face consequences.”

SJS and RFKHR strongly condemns the Somali government’s use of arbitrary arrest, detention, and torture to repress freedom of expression. We call on the Government to implement safeguards to prevent abuse and torture by state law enforcement against detainees in compliance with international law. We also urge the Somali authorities to respect freedom of expression and opinion, especially press freedom, and to ensure an enabling environment for civic space.

RayoByte’s involvement in SJS DDoS attack raises questions about funding sources

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September 7, 2023

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MOGADISHU, Somalia – 7 September, 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), in collaboration with Qurium, a nonprofit foundation, has revealed that the U.S. company RayoByte, along with its affiliate Sprious, controlled the infrastructure used for the Distributed Denial-of-Service Attack (DDoS) that temporarily shut down SJS’s online servers last month.

Thanks to the relentless support from Qurium and its digital defenders, the attack was successfully mitigated. However, a subsequent forensic investigation uncovered that in late August, the SJS website, www.sjsyndicate.org, was flooded by a massive DDoS attack originating from over 20,000 unique IP addresses.

While we recognize that SJS is not the sole news outlet targeted by DDoS attacks facilitated by RayoByte’s services, the timing of this cyberattack couldn’t have been worse. Days later, plain-clothed Somali intelligence officers kidnapped SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul due to his reporting on alleged police corruption, which was broadcasted by Kaab TV. These concurrent crises have put immense strain on our organization.

Graph shows malicious traffic from the attacks coming from the ASN where Private Internet Access (PIA) and ExpressVPN VPN traffic is known to be sourced.

Qurium’s analysis indicates that it thwarted nearly 20,000 IP addresses coming to SJS website with millions of requests on August 18 and 19. Nearly 50% of this traffic was routed through RayoByte and its hosting partners, as per the analysis. The remaining traffic came through various other online channels, including virtual private networks (VPNs).

Throughout August, SJS received reports from several other media houses that experienced similar DDoS attacks, some lasting for days or weeks.

During the investigation of the DDoS attack traffic logs on SJS website, Qurium identified prefixes associated with OpenVPN/IKE rather than proxy services. Initially, attention was focused on six prefixes from AS206092/SECFIREWALLAS, revealing VPN services. These networks displayed certificates from three VPN products by Kape Technologies: privateinternetaccess, cyberghost, expressvpn. The evidence strongly suggested that VPN infrastructures were exploited in the DDoS attacks.

Qurium also identified IP addresses originating from ISPs such as GSL Networks Pty LTD, Latitude.sh LTDA, and SECFIREWALLAS, all categorized as “VPN Consumer Network” by ARIN.

Qurium promptly informed the three VPN providers, IPVanish, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN, that their infrastructures were involved in carrying out denial of service attacks.

RayoByte, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, formerly known as Blazing SEO, is among the companies that offer clients access to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for “scraping” data from websites, listing various prices based on variables like type and speed.

Sprious, the parent company of RayoByte, informed Qurium via email that they had “removed the abusive user” from their network.

However, the remaining VPN providers mentioned have yet to provide an explanation at the time of this report.

“While we are relieved that Qurium managed to mitigate this online attack, we cannot ignore the fact that unscrupulous groups are funded to rent or buy proxy IP addresses to carry out online attacks against vulnerable media and human rights organizations like SJS,” SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin said. “The critical question now is, who has funded this substantial attack? Where is the funding coming from?”

“In the face of Somalia’s dire humanitarian crisis, it is disheartening that authorities in Mogadishu are financing criminals to launch online attacks against organizations like SJS. Will they ever be held accountable for this?” Mr. Mumin added.

Alert: SJS colleague Mohamed Bulbul’s phone devices compromised during incommunicado detention

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September 4, 2023

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MOGADISHU, Somalia – 04 September, 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses profound concern over the apparent compromise of SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul’s phone devices, a matter that has recently come to our attention.

Since his unlawful detention on 17 August, 2023, plain-clothed national intelligence officers confiscated Bulbul’s devices. Officers from the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had requested access to his devices, aiming to uncover the sources behind his recent investigative report exposing police corruption linked to a training seminar involving the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP Somalia). However, SJS vehemently rejected this unlawful demand.

We have been alerted by family members and friends of Bulbul who have been receiving calls and messages from Bulbul’s phones, with bizarre demands for transfer of payments. Furthermore, SJS has identified activity on Bulbul’s devices as recently as 18:48 local time on Tuesday 22 August, 2023.

“We are extremely troubled by the apparent compromise of our colleague Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul’s phone devices, conducted without his knowledge while he is held incommunicado for over 19 days in Mogadishu. We hereby caution all family members, friends, and anyone else receiving communication from our colleague’s phones, as well as monitoring his social media platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook,” said SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

“There is absolutely no justifiable reason for our detained colleague to demand transfer of payments. We firmly believe that those behind these demands, using Bulbul’s phone numbers and WhatsApp, are either police officers or members of the National Intelligence (NISA). They should be deeply ashamed of their actions and cease immediately,” Mumin emphasized. “Hacking or compromising an innocent journalist’s private communication in pursuit of news sources is illegal. The Somali Federal Constitution prohibits any such actions.”

SJS is additionally concerned that the police detaining Bulbul have sought to manipulate an email communication from EUCAP Somalia, according to media reports, seemingly aimed at implicating our colleague in retaliation for his news report exposing alleged police corruption.

SJS reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional freedom of our colleague Bulbul. He is held without formal charges. During his detention, he has been subjected to relentless forced interrogation, torture, and ill-treatment, while being denied access to his legal counsel and concerned family members who are concerned about his wellbeing.

SJS and RFK Human Rights call for Mohamed Bulbul’s immediate release

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September 1, 2023

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MOGADISHU/ WASHINGTON DC, 1 September, 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) strongly denounce the ongoing arbitrary detention of SJS Information and Human Rights Secretary, Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul and demand his immediate and unconditional release. We are deeply alarmed by the growing trend of attacks against journalists and a free press in Somalia.

On 17 August 2023, Bulbul, who is also an editor at Kaab TV in Somalia, was abducted while participating in a class at Mogadishu University. While in class, several armed men physically attacked Bulbul – he was punched in the chest and hit repeatedly with a pistol before being blindfolded and whisked away in an unmarked vehicle. The men who assaulted Bulbul were unidentified plain-clothed individuals, allegedly linked to national intelligence and the police in Mogadishu. Bulbul’s whereabouts were unknown for many hours as he was denied the opportunity to contact his lawyers, family or colleagues. Members of SJS learned that Bulbul was being held at the Hamar Jajab Criminal Investigation Department (CID) unofficially.

Bulbul’s abduction was in direct reprisal for his investigative work regarding corruption in the Somali police force. His attack occurred within 24 hours after his investigative reporting exposed the embezzlement of public funds by officers of the Somali Police Force. The misappropriated funds were earmarked for stipends to be paid to junior police officers participating in a seminar organized by the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP). However, participants at the training never received their stipends despite attending in full. The exposé was published by Kaab TV.

In addition to his arbitrary detention, Bulbul has been denied access to legal representation and communication with his family. He has been reportedly subjected to interrogation by a team led by head of the CID, Abdifatah Ali Hersi, in the absence of his legal counsel. Reports indicate that Banadir police commander Mahdi Omar Muumin (known as Moalim Mahdi) ordered Bulbul’s detention without a valid warrant. Such actions constitute a flagrant violation of the law, a breach of Bulbul’s fundamental human rights, and a direct contravention of the principles of a free press.

“We strongly condemn the ongoing detention, unwarranted intimidation, and threats against our colleague, journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul by the Somali police in Mogadishu. He is detained solely due to his investigative journalism exposing alleged police corruption. It is deeply distressing that Bulbul has suffered torture and has been denied his rights to meet with his family and legal counsel. We demand his immediate and unconditional freedom,” said Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary-General of SJS. “Those responsible for Mohamed Bulbul’s unlawful detention and torture must be held accountable.”

After over 12 days of detention, no charges have been filed against Bulbul and according to a letter from the court, On 19 August, Bulbul made a brief appearance before the Banadir Regional Court, resulting in an extension of his detention by an additional seven days. Moreover, authorities in Somalia have made frantic attempts to identify Bulbul’s sources within the police force. On Monday, 21 August, SJS received a call from CID officers demanding access to Bulbul’s phone and laptop login details. They also demanded information relating to sources of Bulbul’s investigative report. SJS refused to comply with these unlawful demands and are alarmed to learn that the Regional Court granted the CID access to Bulbul’s cell phone in breach of his right to privacy without input from his lawyers

“Bulbul’s ordeal is a concerning example of the hostile environment within which journalists operate in Somalia. The actions of the state operatives portray a blatant violation of rights protected by the Somali Constitution, African Charter and other binding human rights treaties. The government must desist from such actions and release Bulbul immediately.” said Ikechukwu Uzoma staff attorney at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

In addition to the brazen assault on Bulbul’s rights, there has been a sustained cyber attack on the SJS website. Since August 12, the SJS website has been rendered inoperable following attacks specifically targeting SJS content related to Bulbul’s case, further highlighting the multifaceted nature of attacks against journalists in Somalia.

For democracy to thrive, freedom of the press is essential and the government has a binding obligation to respect, promote and protect the right. We strongly urge the government of Somalia to end the continuing violation of the rights of Bulbul and other journalists facing arbitrary detention and persecution for their work.

War Saxaafadeed: Ka Jawaabista Warka Been Abuurka ee Booliska

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August 31, 2023

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MUQDISHO, Soomaaliya, 31 August 2023 – Xoghayaha Warfaafinta iyo Xuquuqda Aadanaha Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Maxamed Ibraahim Bulbul wuxuu sifo sharci darro ah ku xiran yahay maalinkii 15aad.

Bulbul waxaa lagula kacay tacaddiyo ay ka mid yihiin jirdil, handadaad, su’aalo qasab ah oo sharciga ka baxsan (oo uu iska diiday), cuntada oo loo diiday, booqashada ehelka, qoyska, saaxiibada iyo xitaa qareennada oo loo diiday.

Ma jirto wax eedeyn ah oo lagu soo oogay illaa hadda. Sidaasi darteedna ma ahan eedeysane.

SJS waxay cambaareyneysaa war saxaafadeed shalay 30 Augusto 2023 lagu faafiyay barta Ciidanka Booliska Soomaaliya kaasoo ay ka buuxeen ereyo sharciga ku xadgudbaya, looguna been abuuranayo Maxamed Ibraahim Bulbul.

Sida uu sheegayo Qodobka 35aad ee Dastuurka Dalka KMG, qofkasta waa bilaa dembi illaa “Maxkamad sharci” ah ku hesho dembi, halka Qodobka 70aad ee XHC uu sheegayo in mas’uuliyadda oogista eedda uu leeyahay Xafiiska Xeer Ilaalinta. Waa yaab e goorma ayuu boolisku noqday Xeer Ilaalin?

Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) waxay cambaareyneysaa falalka handadaada ah iyo isku dayga su’aalo weydiinta qasabka ah ee lagu hayo Maxamed Bulbul. Waxaana ku baaqeynaa in la joojiyo, lana siiyo xorriyaddiisa si deg deh ah. Waa in lala xisaabtamaa kuwii weeraray ee afduubay Bulbul.

Boolisku waa inay baaritaan ku sameeyaan, sharcigana horgeeyaan kuwa musuqmaasuqa lagu eedeeyay. Waa in la joojiyaa beegsiga lagu hayo suxufiyiinta soo baarta ama ka hadasha eedeymaha musuqmaasuqa baahsan ee halakeeyay dalka Soomaaliya.

Justice Abroad Submits UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Communication for SJS Information and Human Rights Secretary Mohamed Bulbul who is Unlawfully Detained for his Reporting

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August 29, 2023

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Journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, SJS Information and Human Rights Secretary. | Photo/File.

Justice Abroad’s Michael Polak has submitted a complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for the Information and Human Rights Secretary of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), Mohamed Bulbul. The complaint concerns Mr Bulbul’s arbitrary arrest and detention, without a lawful charge or warrant, based on his investigative work about corruption in the Somali Police Force. Mr Bulbul has been held for 12 days without charge and without access to his Somali lawyers in breach of the Somalian Constitution and international human rights provisions.

On 17 August 2023, at 8am SJS Information and Human Rights Secretary and editor at Kaab TV, Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul was unlawfully arrested and detained by unidentified plain-clothed individuals allegedly linked to national intelligence and the police in Mogadishu. The armed men physically attacked Mr. Bulbul, punched his chest and used their pistols to batter his right shoulder.

The unlawful seizure of Mr Bulbul followed his reporting the day before that senior Somali police officers who had participated in a capacity building training seminar organised and funded by the European Union (EUCAP Somalia) were suspected of misusing funds in connection with the seminar.

At the time of his unlawful arrest, Mr. Bulbul was participating in a class at Mogadishu University. After the assault, the assailants forcibly transported Mr. Bulbul into an unmarked waiting vehicle resulting his disappearance. Hours later, he was located at the Hamar Jajab criminal investigation department (CID). Mr. Bulbul has been repeatedly denied access to legal representation and communication with his family, was not produced before a court within 48 hours as required by the Somalian Constitution, and his arrest and detention was made without a warrant.

The complaint on behalf of Mr. Bulbul sets out that his detention is in flagrant breach of the Somali Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Mr. Bulbul’s arrest and detention was made without lawful warrant or charge contrary to Article 9(2) ICCPR, and he was subjected to interrogation by police officers without the presence of legal counsel. In violation of Article 35(2) of the Somalian Constitution, Mr. Bulbul was not informed of the reason for his arrest or detention.

Mr. Bulbul has been deprived of his liberty for reasons of discrimination based on his investigative journalism work as Information and Human Rights Secretary of the Somali Journalist Syndicate.

Michael Polak stated ‘Unfortunately the Somalian authorities continue to seek to repress press freedom in Somalia which is particularly important for development and for the prevention of abuses of power and corruption. We call for the unconditional release of Mr Bulbul and for the authorities to comply with the fair trial provisions under the Somalian Constitution and their obligations under international law. The European Union should also speak out for Mr Bulbul given that he was unlawfully seized for reporting on corruption involved with the misuse of funds for their training.’

SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin stated “While we strongly condemn the continued arbitrary detention of my colleague, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul in Mogadishu, we are glad with the submission to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD). We demand the unconditional and immediate freedom of Mohamed Bulbul who is solely detained for uncovering a severe corruption allegation involving Somali police and the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP) in Somalia.”

Notes to Editors

Justice Abroad, www.justiceabroad.co.uk has been set up to help those trying to find their way through foreign justice systems with all the associated hurdles that presents, to represent those facing gross breaches of their human rights no matter where this takes place, and to advise and assist the victims of crimes as to how to achieve justice.

Justice Abroad, run by international lawyer Michael Polak, has assembled a team of top investigators, lawyers, and support staff to provide unparalleled support, advice and guidance, legal, advocacy, and investigatory service for your Justice Abroad issues anywhere in the world. The Justice Abroad team with their trusted international pool of experts, their networks, and media contacts and their well-documented determination to leave no stone unturned in the search for the truth and justice are here to provide that much needed support for families and individuals in their time of need.

Press Freedom Under Fire: Bulbul held incommunicado, two more reporters briefly detained and a minority radio station attacked

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August 24, 2023

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MOGADISHU, Somalia 24 August 2023 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) expresses its concern over the escalating surge of threats and acts of violence flagrantly targeting journalists and media stations who are exposing government corruption and insecurity by the Somali police officers and the national intelligence personnel, all too often escaping accountability for their actions.

Since the past Thursday, police officers at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Mogadishu have held Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul, SJS’s Secretary of Information and Human Rights, incommunicado. His unlawful detention is linked to his investigative news story, broadcasted by Kaab TV on 16 August, uncovering the alleged embezzlement of stipends allocated for Somali police officers attending a training seminar funded by the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP Somalia). On 19 August, Bulbul made a brief appearance before the Banadir Regional Court, resulting in an extension of his police custody by an additional seven days.

On Monday, 21 August, SJS received a call by police officers from the criminal investigation department (CID) demanding access to Bulbul’s phone and laptop logins. They also demanded details about the sources of Bulbul’s investigative news story. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) firmly refused to comply with these unusual and unlawful demands.

Despite multiple efforts made by SJS to establish contact with both EUCAP Somalia and the European Union Delegation in Somalia, our attempts to communicate via email seeking clarification regarding our colleague’s detention have unfortunately yielded no response up to this point.

Mohamed Dulmi-Diid, cameraman for Five Somali TV. | Photo Courtesy/Facebook.

Zakariye Mohamed Salad, reporter for Five Somali TV. | Photo Courtesy/ Facebook. — Mohamed Dulmi-Diid, cameraman for Five Somali TV. | Photo Courtesy/Facebook.

On Wednesday 23 August, police officers apprehended two journalists from Five Somali TV, Zakariye Mohamed Salad (reporter) and Mohamed Dulmi-diid (cameraman). The journalists were on assignment to report on the aftermath of coordinated Al-Shabaab attacks that had unfolded in various neighborhoods of Mogadishu overnight on Tuesday. According to Fua’d Haji Abdiweli, Director of Five Somali TV, the two journalists were dispatched to conduct interviews at 8:00 AM on Wednesday. However, under orders from the Kaxda police station commander, they were detained for a span of three hours, during which their equipment was seized. Following this detention, they were released around mid-day without any formal charges being brought against them. Regrettably, the journalists were compelled to abandon their news story.

On 15 August, Galmudug police officers in Dhuusamareeb detained journalist Abdifatah Yusuf Beereed while in the midst of interviewing police officers who had expressed grievances about the non-payment of salaries spanning several months. The police commissioner of Dhusamareb, Nur Elmi Mohamed, headed a team of officers that escorted Beereed away from the city center. During his time in custody, which lasted until 16 August, Beereed told SJS that he was held at the police cell during the night and the following day when he was freed without any charge. However, his release came about solely after the footage from his interviews was erased and his camera equipment returned afterwards.

Dhuusamareeb based journalist Abdifatah Yusuf Beereed. | Photo/ Courtesy Facebook.

On the night of 12 August, armed men affiliated to former Barawe district commissioner Liban Abukar Osman fired several gunshots at the premises of Radio Barawe, a community-owned local radio station that speaks for the marginalized Bravanese community, according to Radio Barawe reporting at the time. The Radio’s director, Osman Aweys Bahar who was in the studio at the time of the incident told SJS that the shooting came days after the radio covered an allegation of torture resulting in the death of a local resident at the hands of the police. As a result, Radio Barawe director fled the city and is currently seeking safety in another location. This response followed a disturbing pattern, as SJS previously documented two raids targeting Radio Barawe and the subsequent detention of its journalists in 2020 and 2021 by Southwest State authorities in Barawe. These actions were motivated by an apparent attempt to halt the radio station’s unique programming in the Chimwimini, a local dialect spoken by the ethnic Baravanese community.

Radio Barawe director, Osman Aweys Bahar. | Photo Courtesy/ Radio Barawe.

“We express grave concern about the ongoing incommunicado detention of our colleague, the SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul. We are demanding for his unreserved and prompt freedom,” SJS Secretary-General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin said “We vehemently demand that the Somali police officers desist from perpetuating ongoing threats against our colleague. Moreover, we implore the police authorities to initiate a thorough investigation into those implicated in the corruption allegations reported – not the journalist who uncovered it,” Mumin further emphasized.

“The focus is squarely on EUCAP Somalia and the entire EU Delegation in Somalia. Our colleague’s unlawful detention cannot be ignored, and silence is not a solution. We urge both EUCAP Somalia and the EU Delegation in Somalia to step forward, address the situation, and provide a clear account of their involvement in the detention of Bulbul, who dared to uncover allegations of corruption,” Mr. Mumin added.

“The perilous environment surrounding Radio Barawe and the ordeal faced by its director, Osman Aweys Bahar, must come to an immediate halt. Those who target journalists and media entities that speak for the minority rights should know that their actions are not just breaching constitutional rights; they are perpetrating blatant human rights violations,” added SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

Maalinta Caalamiga ee Xog-helidda ah ayaa Bulbul la geeyay xabsiga

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