Mogadishu 16 August, 2009 :: The late victim Mr. Said was the director of Hornafric radio in Mogadishu for close to two years and assassinated in Bakara Market on February o4 2009 while he was on his way for press conference of Al-shabaab group and he was a member of more than 7 media directors at that particular day. There is also some Al-shabaab militia men who accompanied with them.

What is the Reason behind his killing?

Soon after the election of president Sharif on 31st January 2009 the Somali media directors convened a meeting to support Djibouti political agreement at one of the radio stations meeting room (Radio Koran Karim meeting room, north Mogadishu).

The media issued a communiqué that composed four articles:

1- Not to host the Islamic awareness direct from the Mosque to the radio centre organized by Somali Ulumos, as it was used into political issues and out of its agenda here in after it is decided to send the journalists and cover it then release it after while editing.

2- Not to accept any press conference holding through telephones, Since the Ethiopian troops have moved out and was the cause of organizing press conference holding by phones thus for Islamic forces and any one wishing to have a press conference have to request from administrations of the media centers. Then will be sending a journalist, even though regions.

3- Not to interview a person whom the society does not know him in the politics or the issue that he/she is talking about, As well as having no known rank and name of famous and not to propagate a new group or person whom cannot voting any additional profit to the society. All sides agreed that people to be referred should be the famous known leaders and not to make a famous in our centres for a person not bringing any profit for the society.

4- Finally has agreed that to make strong any one operating for the peace issues and not host to the society for news can create problems and unit-peace issues.

Until the above articles are implemented the media centre’s opposed a press conference to hold through telephones organized by a part of the Mukawama and other political groups reasoning that people whom was spoke was not appropriated leaders.

While Mr. Said participated at that meeting and be the first director conducted those four articles he faced more pressure from Islamists organizations particularly Alshabaab, Free Mujahidiin and the new group called Hizbul Islam leaders.

Although that is existing Alshabaab group has doubled their pressure against the independent media in Somalia in order to push them to accept their interests and made more phone calls to the media directors about their view.

In the light of the above, Alshabaab organized a press conference regarding this misunderstand between Somali media and Islamists ideology towards the ongoing violence against the stability of the country. Because all the independent Somali media decided to support the peace agreement in Djibouti in order to harness this lasting opportunity from UN along with the international community.

Somali media started together dialogues among Somalis particularly civilians and the warring sides in the country. In order to discuss what happened in Djibouti and what is wrong right now. Therefore during these talk shows in the media you can understand that the people are all supporting to the government and would like to be supporters.

That is that why Somali media to be under aggressive attacks day by day and constant fear. While this attacks against media society is higher degree last three years all Somali journalists and media professionals decided to work in these dreadful circumstances.

Which group behinds his killing and how they did?

As the Matter-of-fact, the Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) did different investigations on the case at the time he was killed until July, 2009 and SOJRA realized that Alshabaab was organized that grave assassination against press freedom in Somalia in order to create constant fear against the other Somali journalists and media professionals.

SOJRA is very glad to learn that those behind his killing belong the two most power full clans. The first one who started the fire belongs an Ogaden, a Darod sub-clan; whereby the second one is from a Murasade, a Hawiye sub-clan.
SOJRA has also learned the full names of the criminals behind this killing and their families as well.

The Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) will bring all the necessary evidences on the court while Somalia get stability or if UN started follow up against the criminals and war loads.

The ethnic identity of late journalist Said Tahlil Ahmed

The journalist Said Tahlil Ahmed is from the discriminated minority population of Somalia known as .5 in words (point five clans) and his sub-clan is Madhiban. Therefore said is the second minority journalist killed in this year for no reason.

These discriminated minority Somalis faced Harish treatment since 1991 the worst human violence in Somalia during the civil war. And more people of this community were killed, abducted and forced to leave their own properties every where they live in the country.

The ideology behinds his killing

Unfortunately the criminals behind his killing were not publicly denounce their opinion for his case but they used after his murder more persuasive ploy statements and interviews that they tried to escape the case.

Although this case is clear to everyone and the human rights groups inside Somalia locally and internationally counted and investigated the case.
The main reason behind his killing is that Alshabab aiming to send a direct message to the independent Somali media while they started to stop and reject more programs from Islamic organizations in Somalia.

The feeling of Somali media society for his assassination

The young and brave Somali journalists were feeling a lot of fear and frightening while their colleague Said was murdered because he was prominent and respected journalist. Said was also a teacher for more than 100 journalists in Somalia he was also well experienced and talented journalist.

Many Somali journalist were also decided to flee the country for fear or reprisal for their journalistic profession. This caused that the hand of Somali journalists couldn’t write on the paper what is in the head of the journalist but it writes what it believes that it will be safe.

Without Somali media nobody could report about what is happening in the country as both local and international are threatened, kidnapped and killed in Somalia while they were on duty by the different groups fighting for the power.

SOJRA viewpoint to the international Community

Conclusion the Somali Journalists’ Rights Agency (SOJRA) calls for the international community and human rights groups to make sure for their collaboration of Somali journalists in order to be well insiders for criminal and gangster persons who behind the violence and attacks against the innocent people of Somalia particularly media society because they are the real human rights defenders who are still committing to inside Somalia and if the international community failed to help them or encourage their work it will be very tragedy which will be the hellish obstacle against human rights and humanitarian situations of all Somali people in across the country.

“Attention”

SOJRA will not share any concrete or detailed report/information for any organization which is not partner organization. Therefore we are suggesting you to be a partner organization in order to have our full detailed report/information.

If you wish to sign our partnership form please let us know and send us immediately email at info@sojra.org or sojra2007@yahoo.com .
Thank you for your collaborations.

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