Hayaan Media Development Center (HMDC) is strongly condemning the arrest of two local journalists in southern Somalia by militants of Al-Shabab Islamist group as in total violation against freedom of press, statement said on 16 March 2010.

According to Juba Journalists Association (JIJA), militants loyal to Al-Shabaab in Kismayo raided this morning the house of Mohamed  Salad Abdulle where they put in detention.  Salad is a reporter for Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) a local TV and Radio station based in Bosaso, Puntland, the semi-autonomous region in northeast Somalia.also he is a member of  JIJA.

In Beledhawo of Gedo region in Southern Somalia, Islamists arrested today Mohamed Abdikirim, a reporter for local radios of Horn Afrik  and Markabley. Both journalists were arrested for journalistic tasks.

“This is absolutely unacceptable and intolerable action against the freedom of expression,” said Abdiweli Ibrahim Aden ” Garyare” The East Africa Project Coordinator of “HMDC”  “The continuation of harassments could eliminate the free media activities in Somalia,” he added.

Hayaan Media is demanding for an immediate release of the two journalists with the respect of human rights and free media rules.

Somalia is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa as more than 20 professional journalists were killed and hundreds more wounded for the last three years.