Somalia's new controversial media law takes effect.
The 42-article new bill, earlier signed by president Hassan
Sheikh Mohamed passed by the cabinet and parliament is seen as
‘restrictive’ which gives authorities
wide-range of options to prosecute and arrest journalists for disseminating
‘false’ news, and slap fines on journalists and media houses that infringe the
law, subjects journalists say were ‘vaguely worded’.
"The media law has
taken effect today and it will be broadcast on the state media.” Somalia’s information minister Mohamed Abdi
Hayir told reporters.
Despite an outrage by journalists, Mr. Mareye insisted that
the law protects journalists’ rights.
Somali journalists expressed worries about contents in the
law, which creates a watchdog that would regulate the media operating in the
country; a scenario which they said aim to censor critical voices and issue gag
orders on sensitive topics.
"It’s all about legalizing arrests, intimidation and
silencing journalists.” said a local Somali journalist who asked not to be
named because of fears of reprisals.
"The government is sadly flexing its muscles towards
journalists rather than dealing with other important things including the fragile
security.” He said.
Somalia is one of the world’s most dangerous places for
journalists as dozens of journalists have been killed in the past few years.
Despite government’s promises of prosecution of perpetrators
for media workers killings, yet criminals walk freely without facing justice
that provoked int’l calls demanding justice.
Human rights groups demand that Somali authorities and the
international community take action to reestablish the rule of bill in Somalia,
following the killing of many journalists in the country.
The country is emerging from decades of war that shattered
its governmental system.
As usual, reporters in Somalia must watch for attacks from
militants and criminals and know that such deaths have been met with judicial
inaction in a capital city with crippled government institutions.
Most of the killings have taken place in areas of Mogadishu under the Somali government's control. Despite government promises of prosecutions, no arrests have yet been made for any of the killings in 2012.
Somalia's new controversial media law takes effect.
A new wave of concerns for media freedom in Somalia rose among Somali journalists as the controversial media law took effect Tuesday three days after the president signed it, minster announced.