Reporters sans Frontières
Press release
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Reporters Without Borders is very worried by
the grave threat to media freedom and media pluralism posed by a bill
that the Somali cabinet approved on 11 July and, if adopted by
parliament, would replace the 2007 media law.
Its provisions include giving the courts the power to order
journalists to reveal their sources - a flagrant violation of freedom of
information.
"By approving this bill, the cabinet has betrayed its contempt for
journalists and the basic principles of media freedom," Reporters
Without Borders said. "In what is already one of the world's most
dangerous countries for the media, the self-censorship resulting from a
lack of protection for sources would reduce reporters to near silence.
Reporters Without Borders added: "We urge Somalia's parliament to
defend freedom of information by rejecting this draconian legislation
without delay."
The proposed law would provide a legal basis for the strong pressure
that the Somali authorities already apply to both local and foreign
media on security grounds.
One of the main sources of concern is the vague wording used in
connection with media offences. The law would also undermine the
independence of the National Media Council, which regulates the media.
National Union of Somali Journalists secretary-general Omar Faruk
Osman said: "If left unchanged and passed by the federal parliament, the
draft law would seriously restrict media pluralism, curb the
independence of the press and impose a chilling effect on the freedom of
expression and public debate, all essential for democracy."
Its approval by the cabinet came just eight days after two
journalists in the northwestern region of Somaliland - Hassan Hussein
Abdullahi, the editor of the Hargeisa-based daily Hubaal, and Mohamed
Ahmed Jama, the newspaper's manager - were given jail sentences and
heavy fines on libel charges.
Violence continues to threaten the work of journalists. TV reporter
Liban Abdullahi Farah was gunned down as he was returning to his home in
the north-central city of Galkayo on 7 July.