Activists fighting for press freedom in Somalia have spoken out strongly against the decision by a Mogadishu court to sentence Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye to six months in prison.
The activists claim that President Mohamed Farmaajo’s administration has continued intimidating, harassing, and detaining journalists based on frivolous laws.
Gurbiye has faced state intimidation since his arrest early in April 2020.
Initially, he was kept away from his family, workmates, and lawyers. However, he was later released briefly on bail before being rearrested and charged in court.
Last week, the state amended the charges facing him. Gurbiye’s lawyers resisted the move unsuccessfully.
Today, the court sentenced him to six months in prison and ordered the journalist to pay a fine of $200, a move that has infuriated press freedom activists.
The activists termed the sentencing a “brutal and outrageous” decision. They also called it a “flagrant violation of Somalia’s constitution.”