Somaliland’s Marodi-jeex Regional Court Sentences Journalists to lengthy imprisonment on a trumped up charges, on various cases.
The Marodi Jeh regional court sentenced journalists Mohamed Ilig and Abdijibar Mohamed to one year and four months each and released Abdirahman Ali Khalif.
The three were arrested in April while reporting live on central Hargeisa Jail riots.
On the other hand, the Somaliland Court of Appeal sentenced Oldon, a journalist who was previously acquitted, to two years in prison and 3 million Somaliland shillings.
Oldon has been in jail for a year and three months, while his Lawyers argued his case.
Coldon has been accused of insulting the Somaliland president and for saying Abaarso and Barwaaqo educational institution teach Muslim students Christianity, an allegation both student’s and parents rejected.
The arrest of these and other journalists has been repeatedly criticized by their lawyers, families and human rights activists as unconstitutional.
Lawyers for the convicted journalists have not yet commented on the court’s decision
