Human Rights Lawyer quits his profession for excessive pressure

Hargeisa (Somaliland.com) – A popular Somaliland human rights lawyer has today temporarily quitted his law profession citing an excessive pressure as he claimed.

Mubarak Abdi Ismail told local media in front of Hargeisa Court of Appeals where he was representing a jailed journalist and activist Abdimalik Musa Oldoon who was behind bars for the last five months.

Mr. Mubarak, who also works at the center of Human Rights, HRC, in Hargeisa, has complained about how the authorities handling judicial procedures in the country and the loss of separation of powers.

The lawyer has given two claims for quitting his law profession temporarily:

First, Mr. Mubarak claimed that the courts are not sharing case files with the lawyers representing the jailed suspects.

He also said that Courts and other authorities are not abiding the constitution and other bylaws of the country.

“I am quitting today my beloved profession of law until a major legal reform happens in the country or authorities return to the  respect of the law..”

Mubarak Abdi Ismail

It is not yet clear what the lawyer experienced today in the courtroom that pushed him to take this extreme decision.

On a relating story, a UN Independent Expert published yesterday the situation of Human rights in Somaliland. In his report, Mr. Bahame Tom Nyanduga mentioned that the Somaliland police reportedly prohibit lawyers from representing their clients who have been arrested and refuse to disclose evidence until court and lawyers are intimidated.”

The Report also alleges police to operate with high-handedness across Somaliland. The Rapid Response Unit of the police force established to combat terrorism applies unnecessary and excessive force with grave consequences when deployed to quell civil unrest.

The Expert wrote his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council.