Alasow said we knew that Puntland authorities have been pressuring the activities of the free press in the region but what is so surprised is that how such long term jail sentence could be happened without any investigation on the allegation against the Horseed Media director

Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) is strongly condemning the jail sentence put by Puntland state high court on Abdifatah Jama Mire, Director of Horseed Media as unlawful and and unacceptable verdict.

"We are deeply concerned about the six-year jail term given Mire, director of Horseed Media in Bosaso without any inquiry on the charges against the journalist. this is illegal move taken by the court in Puntland." said Dahir Abdulle Alasow, the president of ASOJ. "This is total violation against the free media in the region."

Alasow said we knew that Puntland authorities have been pressuring the activities of the free press in the region but what is so surprised is that how such long term jail sentence could be happened without any investigation on the allegation against the Horseed Media director.

"it was said that Mire was arrested for interview with rebel leader, but what i can not make out is that how this could be a crime and cause the journalist to face jail term." Alsow added.

On Friday, 13 August 2010. the police commissioner in Bosaso Colonel Abdisalam Aflaw, ordered the arrest of Mire with the accusation of interviewing the leader of the rebel group fighting against Puntland government in Galgala area near Bosaso.

Seven other media workers from the radio station were also arrested, but they were later released.

Puntland, which is a semi-autonomous region in northeast Somalia, has been engaging war against with a radical Islamist group linking to Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia

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