Somali court of appeals has adjourned the case of a journalist and a woman he interviewed who alleged that government forces had raped her.
The next date of hearing has been set for February 27.
Both journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim and the 27-year-old woman were sentenced to one year in prison during an earlier hearing. The charges included insulting a government body, making false accusations and seeking to profit from said allegations.
Rights activists, including US-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW), have alleged that the ruling was politically motivated, and urged the appeals court to acquit the two defendants.
Three other defendants were acquitted during the February 5 trial by a Benadir regional court.
Ibrahim, who has been under detention since January 10, began serving his sentence at Mogadishu Central Prison immediately after the trial.
The woman is to begin her sentence after nursing her baby.
“The court finds that he offended state institutions by making a false interview, and entering the house of a woman whose husband was not present,” said Judge Ahmed Adan while announcing the earlier verdict.
The journalist’s arrest followed increasing media attention on reported sexual abuse by Somalia security forces. Earlier in January, Universal TV – a local television station – and Al Jazeera’s website separately published stories about allegations of rape in the city’s crowded camps for displaced people.
Ibrahim had not been involved with either story, does not work for either organisation, and had not published anything of his own investigation before he was detained.
“The outcome of this case is crucial for both the reporting of sexual violence and press freedom in Somalia,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “This case is a travesty, but it could still end with justice prevailing.”
Prior to being charged, the woman was interrogated for two days by the police without a lawyer present, HRW said.
At the trial, the judges did not permit the defence to present witnesses or evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case.
Source: Al Jezeera
this is a travesty and nothing more.
Rape is an ugly crime and the one who commited this crime must be stoned to death according to the Islamic law. That we know. What we still fail to understand is that why Somalis disregard our Islamic Sharia and just hurry and haste to listen to what Western Human rights Watch tell. I am afraid that Amison Soldiers will sit in Somalis courts in the days to com. A land without lad! May Almight God Save Somalis as a whole.
And these are the same scum who want us to re-unite with them.
just shut up you transvestite assh**le.
sahra, just because i said NO to your darood smelly p*ssy doesnt mean you can stalk me on the internet.
There's nothing you have that I want madam kaboon, and we know what you're attracted to And ain't girls.So quit pretending kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.
LOL, says the one that imprisons, tortures and kills, journalists and citizens for speaking out and not wanted to be part of you.
Her was released on bail, that should have included too
He*
I can understand that some people might make a false allegations towards others just to benefit from it but it is hard to prove it who is right and wrong. Raping someone is just as bad as killing somebody and is unacceptable. Insha'Allah Xaqq will prevail
Sadly, anything goes in Somalia. Two decades of mayhem are bound to have consequences