Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has said the judge involved in the sentencing of journalist Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye was not independent.
Together with Somali Media Association (SOMA), the two organizations, which fight for the wellbeing and freedom of journalists and media owners, faulted the state and the judge.
Yesterday, Judge Mohamud Yasin found Gurbiye guilty of the charges filed against him by the state over a post published on the journalist’s personal Facebook page.
Yasin judged Gurbiye guilty of breaching Article 328 of the country’s Penal Code.
Initially, the state had charged him under Article 220 of the Penal Code before amending the charges last week in court.
SJS’s Secretary General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, said the government had demonstrated its commitment to fighting and intimating the press through this sentencing.
Mumin also indicated that the judge was only doing the bidding of the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.