MOGADISHU, Somalia (SMN) — A Somali journalist was detained Saturday after being summoned by police for questioning over an interview with an opposition party leader who is also in custody for a week.
Mahmoud Abdinasir Soofeysane, the deputy director of Shabelle Media Network, was held at the Hamarweyne District Police Station in Mogadishu, the network said in a statement.
The questioning was related to an interview Soofeysane conducted with Abdirahman Suleyman, the chairman of the Somali People’s Party over the current political and security situation in the country.
Shabelle Media Network has condemned the arrest, calling it unlawful and demanding Soofeysane’s immediate release.
“This was an illegal act against press freedom,” the outlet said. Somali police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Somalia is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, with frequent reports of harassment and arbitrary detentions.
