Hargeisa, (HargeisaPress) —Human Rights Centre calls on the government of Somaliland to immediately release Omar Ali Hassan Serbia, a journalist with Goobjoog Media.
Omar was detained on 8th July from Egal Airport, Hargeisa, after he returned from Mogadishu where the media he works for is based.
Omar is detained in undisclosed location and his family is unable to meet him. He is not brought to court as mandated by the law. Omar is not charged of any crime and the government has not stated the reason of his detention.
Article 32 (3) of the Constitution says “The press and other media are part of the fundamental freedoms of expression and are independent. All acts to subjugate them are prohibited, and a law shall determine their regulation,”
Human Rights Centre is very concerned of the detention of journalists and application of the criminal law over the journalists, a practice contrary to the Constitution and the Press Law of Somaliland.
Human Rights Centre calls on the government to release Omar.