Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye, the Deputy Editor of Goobjoog Media Group (GMG), who has been in police detention since April 14 when he was arrested, has finally been released.
Police released him on Saturday after a day that saw local journalists take to the streets to stage protests denouncing his arrest and demanding his immediate release.
Reports indicate that he was released on bail.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a former president, led the chorus of protests by the country’s political leaders asking President Mohamed Farmaajo to avoid “dictatorial” tendencies.
Gurbiye was arrested on Tuesday at Hodan Police Station while honoring summons. He was then transferred to Mogadishu Central Station despite no charge being preferred against him.
GMG announced his release yesterday in a tweet that read, “Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye, a journalist with Goobjoog FM, has been released from Mogadishu Police Station.”
Gurbiye is the latest journalist to have experienced the wrath of the state. Somalia’s record of intimidating and harassing journalists goes back several decades.