Somaliland Lawyers Association condemns the detention and charging of human rights defenders
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Tuesday February 07, 2017 - 13:27:30 in Wararkii u danbeeyay
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Hargeisa- The detention of Ahmed Hussein Abdi and charges against Guleid Ahmed Jama are unconstitutional and irrational, says Somaliland Lawyers Association (SOLLA) in a press conference held in Hargeisa today.
"The government should release Ahmed Hussein Abdi and drop the charges against Guleid Ahmed Jama,” SOLLA said.
"The citizens have a constitutional right to write petitions. It is stipulated in article 74 of the constitution. The police should not suppress the citizens to exercise their constitutional rights” says Hassan Ali Hassan, a member of SOLLA. "The actions of the police are a clear violation of the constitution,” he added.
Mohamoud Abdirahman Sheikh Nour, a member of SOLLA, said the crackdown of Human Rights Centre is evidence for the necessity to reform the institution. "We agree with Human Rights Centre. The police should be reformed. They should not oppress Human Rights Centre for wanting a reform. The police enjoys impunity and abuses its powers. That is neither secret nor a crime” he said.
"The police arbitrarily arrested Ahmed and violated his fundamental freedom of expression protected by the constitution. There is no reason to arrest him or charge the human rights defenders,” said Mohamed Ahmed Abokor, a legal aid lawyer who is also member of SOLLA.
SOLLA condemned the detention and charges and called on the government to immediately release Ahmed and drop the charges against the two members of Human Rights Centre.
The police interrogated Guleid Ahmed Jama, a lawyer and the chairperson of Human Rights Centre, on 5th February and charged him with publication of false news leading to public disorder and defamation. He was questioned about a petition calling for police reforms organized by Human Rights Centre. Ahmed Hussein Abdi, the spokesperson of Human Rights Centre, was arrested later that day, Sunday. Today, he has been brought to Hargeisa Regional Court which remanded him five days into custody.
Somaliland Lawyers Association condemns the detention and charging of human rights defenders
Hargeisa- The detention of Ahmed Hussein Abdi and charges against Guleid Ahmed Jama are unconstitutional and irrational, says Somaliland Lawyers Association (SOLLA) in a press conference held in Hargeisa today.