Three Al-Jazeera Journalists Arrested In Somalia

Doha, QATAR: A general view shows the newsroom at the headquarters of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel in Doha 14 November 2006. The English-language version of Al-Jazeera's launches 15 November 2006 aft... Doha, QATAR: A general view shows the newsroom at the headquarters of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel in Doha 14 November 2006. The English-language version of Al-Jazeera's launches 15 November 2006 after a year-long delay. The pan-Arab TV station is out to capitalise on the strategic importance of London as a European capital when it kicks off its English-language service tomorrow. AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Three Al-Jazeera journalists were arrested by security forces, a few hours before an editor of a daily newspaper in Mogadishu was released, said a Somali media rights activist.

Hamza Mohamed, a journalist with Al-Jazeera English television, and two cameramen were arrested by troops near Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday, said Hassan Gesey, director of the media advocacy group SIMHA.

Somali officials told journalists who visited Mohamed in a Mogadishu prison that the Al-Jazeera journalists were arrested upon their return from rebel-held areas where they has interviewed al-Shabab officials, said Gesey.

The National Union of Somali Journalists condemned the latest arrests of journalists which came few hours before the government released Abdi Aden Guled, the editor of Xog-Ogaal, one of the oldest daily newspapers in Mogadishu. Guled was arrested on Sunday and his paper was closed. The Xog-Ogaal remained closed Wednesday but officials handed back equipment seized on Sunday and said the paper could reopen.

Somali officials did not immediately comment on the latest arrests of journalists.

Threats and intimidations against journalists have increased in the past during the election periods in Somalia, which is rated as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for media workers, according to journalists. Journalists are targeted by both Islamic extremists and the government, say rights groups.

Last month, gunmen shot dead Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali Haji, who was on his way home from work as a reporter for Shabelle radio, a radio station in Mogadishu. He was the second journalist killed in Somalia this year.

Three journalists were killed in 2015, including one in a bombing claimed by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said 59 journalists have been killed in Somalia since 1992, shortly after this Horn of Africa nation plunged into chaos.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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