Mogadishu, August 1, 2015 The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has condemned the aribitrary arrest against three journalists by Ahlu Sunna Waljama in the Central Somalia town of Dhusamareb on Friday night and called for the group to immediately release the journalists and create a friendly and secure environment for journalists where they can operate without fear or reprisals.
The journalists; Mohamed Abdi Mohamed, Correspondent for the Somali National TV, Abdijamal Moalim Ahmed, correspondent for the privately owned Kalsan TV and Bar-kulan radio and Bashiir Mohamoud Salad, correspondent for Horncable TV, were arrested on Friday night, following forced media and journalists registration imposed by the Ahlu Sunna Waljama administration in Dhusamareb , which the journalists raised privacy questions.

The journalists informed NUSOJ office in Mogadishu before their arrest about their concerns of this new media and journalist registration imposed by the group and were however uncertain the fate of their privacy if they provided the information requested. NUSOJ also received a copy of the registration papers as it shows how the group want to control the independent media by allowing only contents that favors to them.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the arbitrary arrests against the journalists, aimed at intimidating the journalists and calls for their unconditional release. Whereas NUSOJ calls Ahlu Sunna administration in Dhusamareb to stop the forced registration against the media and the journalists.

"We condemn the arrest of our colleagues in the strongest terms possible and call for their immediate release.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, "We call for the Ahlu Sunna Waljama to stop intimidation against the journalists and the media by arrests or closures and respect the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media by ensuring the fundamental rights of the citizens right to know.”

"We also call for the Ahlu Sunna to create friendly and peaceful environment where journalists can operate without fear or reprisals.” Mr. Ibrahim added.

On May 18, 2015, the Ahlu Sunna administration in the town of Guriel in Central Somalia raided the premises of Radio Galgaduud in Guricel and closed its doors for a weekand briefly arrested the stations deputy director Abdulkadir Gure Barre after the radio station refused to comply draconian orders imposed by the group, in an apparent move to censor the media Radio Galgaduud was allowed to resume operation after it has been off air for a week. Meanwhile the administration Osman Mohamed Adan, correspondent of the Somali National Television (SNTV) based in Guriel, for 24 hours and and ordered his immediate deportation