Somaliland: court sentences opposition politician
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Tuesday May 23, 2017 - 15:31:04 in Wararkii u danbeeyay
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HARGEISA- Court in Hargeisa sentenced senior opposition member to one year of imprisonment and acquitted another on Sunday. Yonis Ahmed Yonis, the Sports and Youth Secretary of Waddani opposition party, was found guilty of "instigation to disobey the laws." Yonis was charged for statement he made at a press conference held by his party in which he condemned demolition of perimeter fences of houses in one street located in centre of Hargeisa.
Waddani, the opposition party, accused the government of destroying "perimeters owned by poor people for a five star hotel owned by the First Lady.” This allegation has been routinely denied by the government.
Mohamed Sidiiq Dhamme, the Youth Wing Leader, was acquitted by the court. The prosecution however appealed and blocked his release.
They were arrested in 11 April and has been in custody since then.
"Article 32 of the constitution of Somaliland guarantee freedom of expression while article 8 of the Political Parties and Associations Act (Law 14/2001) gives protection of free speech to the members of the political parties. We are very concerned of the arrests of politicians in a time a presidential election scheduled on November is approaching,” says Guleid Ahmed Jama, the chairperson of Human Rights Centre.
Human Rights Centre condemned the imprisonment and asked the government of Somaliland to release the detained politicians.
Somaliland: court sentences opposition politician
HARGEISA- Court in Hargeisa sentenced senior opposition member to one year of imprisonment and acquitted another on Sunday. Yonis Ahmed Yonis, the Sports and Youth Secretary of Waddani opposition party, was found guilty of "instigation to disobe