Hargeisa Court Bans and Fines Foore Newspaper and Puts Editor in Jail.

Today Hargeisa Regional Court has given Foore Newspaper a publication ban of one year and a fine of 3Million SlShillings (Approx US $300) for charges of spreading fake news.

Foore Newspaper CEO Abdirashid Abdiwahab confirmed the rulings saying that “Regional Court has ruled the charges of publication ban of one year and a fine.”

He also confirmed that the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Mr Mohamed Ilkacase, is apprehended by CID officers of the police, until the fine is paid fully.

Foore Newspaper is a Somali language, local and daily newspaper in Hargeisa Somaliland. It is independent, neutral and not affiliated with any political block in Somaliland politics.

Although the Somaliland Constitution clearly protects the freedom of speech and the press but this is not first time that a newspaper is banned or editors are arrested for disseminating information which the government claims it as fake news or against the interests of the ruling party.

Politician Jamal Ali Hussein was in the court hearing and expressed his views after the court calling complete judicial reform.

Solja(association of Journalists in Somaliland) and other citizens has expressed in social media their support of Foore newspaper (With hashtag of #FreeFoorenewspaper).