“We are shocked by this latest tragedy, which demonstrates once again
that the enemies of press freedom in Somalia are prepared to shoot and kill journalists,” the international press freedom organization said.
“Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan is the fourth journalist killed in the
country this year and the 25th since 2007.
“We condemn this crime in the strongest terms and ask the authorities
to do their utmost to ensure it does not go unpunished.
“The perpetrator, who should be easily identified by those who
witnessed the incident, must be found, tried and appropriately
punished.”
Hassan, a freelance journalist also know as “Xiis”, worked for the
radio stations Voice of Democracy and Hamar Radio, and for the TV
station Horn Cable TV. He was gunned down while he was in a car with
colleagues near his work place.
A man armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and wearing the military
uniform of the federal transitional government pointed his weapon at
him and fired without any warning. The reporter, badly wounded in the
head, was rushed to the Madina Hospital where he died of his injuries.
In a move widely criticised by other members of parliament and not
acknowledged internationally, some Somali parliamentarians met
recently to oust the assembly’s spokesman. Hassan was the only
journalist to have recorded the gathering and the video was broadcast
by Horn Cable TV.
Several people had asked him for a copy of the recording. His killing
may be linked to the event.
