IFJ Supports Journalists' Call for Press Freedom in Somalia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today expressed
support for Somali journalists in their call for press freedom in
Somalia during a demonstration held last Sunday in the capital,
Mogadishu.

"Journalists have remained at the mercy of the warring factions,
government forces, Islamic insurgents who have frequently targeted,
attacked, kidnapped and killed journalists," said Gabriel Baglo,
Director of the IFJ Africa office. "We call on the international
community to provide protection for journalists covering war-torn
Somalia."

During a demonstration to launch their 2008 annual report entitled
"Somalia: a precarious and perilous place for the press", the National
Union of Somali Journalists, NUSOJ denounced the "violence, attacks,
impunity and injustice against journalists and media" in Somalia.

"Journalists have been targeted as they tried to report on the plight
of the people and provide independent information on current issues,
including serious human rights violations. Journalists and media
houses that are vocal and critical of the warring sides in an
independent and professional manner are constantly attacked," said
NUSOJ Secretary General and President of the Federation of African
Journalists (FAJ), Omar Faruk Osman.

The IFJ and the FAJ call on the international community to enforce
provisions of international law on the protection for the journalists
and media workers covering armed conflict zones such as Somalia.

The report ' Somalia : a precarious and perilous place for press ' is
available here
<http://www.ifj.org/assets/docs/017/152/d2cb011-a233698.pdf>

For more information contact the IFJ at + 221 33 842 01 43

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries
worldwide


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National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is a national union
representing Somali journalists to promote and protect freedom of the press
and the interests and rights of journalists.

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National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
KM4 Area, Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia,
e-mail: newsletter@nusoj.org, Telephone: +252-1-859944
website: www.nusoj.org

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