Mohamed Abdiwahab Abuja, a Somali journalist arrested by National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) on March 7, appeared before a Mogadishu court today.
The state charged Abuja with murder before a military court.
However, in an interesting fate, none of the witnesses that the government presented seemed directly aware of the crime he is alleged to have committed.
During cross-examination, one of the witnesses contradicted himself.
His lawyers hold firmly to the opinion that the state is prosecuting Abuja for an editorial piece he wrote criticizing security forces in the country.
Abuja’s arrest has sparked heated debate in a country with a history of intimidating, arresting, and charging journalists in court with wide-ranging offences.
Last month, Amnesty International requested the Federal Government of Somalia to release him “immediately and unconditionally.”