Waddani party welcomes back its jailed youth-wing leader after 71 days

Hargeisa, July 19 (Somaliland.com) Somaliland opposition party, Waddani, bestowed a fortitude award on the leader of its youth wing, Mohamed Siddiq Dhamme.

The award was handed at a function held in honor of the youth wing leader who gained freedom last week after spending 71 days behind bars.

The colorful party was attended by the leadership of the opposition party including the interim chairman, Abdiqadir Ismail Jirde, the leader of the party, Hersi Hassan Haji Ali and secretary-general Khadar Hussein Abdi. The chairman of the women of the party, party activists and supporters also attended the invitation-only event.

The secretary-general of the party who spoke first welcomed back Mohamed Siddiq Dhamme to the warm embrace of his party colleagues. He called him to be magnanimous to the people who wronged him; to meet hate with love, vengeance with forgiveness.

“When the person is detained and suffers, when he is robbed of his freedom; and taken away from his family and life, that person needs to meet that hate with love; You don’t wrong people because they had wronged you; So I hope that our brother Mohamed Siddiq Dhamme will forgive anyone he has grievances against, that he will hold love and affection to anyone who has hatred and hostility towards him.” Khadar Hussein said

Waddani party’s youth wing leader says expressed gratitude to all the people who stood with him during his ordeal. He said that he found solace during his lengthy detention in the overwhelming support he received from the public, Human Rights advocates and his party.

“I will forget the memory of detention by the overwhelming support that I received from Waddani party, human rights organizations, journalists, my defense lawyers including Jamal Mandella, Hussein Shabel and Hassan, and the different section of society who opposed the injustice of my detention.: Mohamed Sidiiq said

However, he did not forget his companions in detention and highlighted the imprisonment of journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldoon and the plight of other Waddani party activists. “I believe I was an envoy sent to inspect prisons and detention centers. And I will advocate for every person who I left behind in jail . Abdulmalik Muse Oldoon is one of the friends I will mention specifically. He is jailed for doing his job and did not get a fair trial. Abaarso school was not part of his trial. He is in confined for expressing his opinion. And he is a man free of tribalism and prejudice, and Somaliland is dear to him. He loves unity and brotherhood. I got to know his true self in two encounters with him in prison in 2017 and this year 2019.

Mohamed Siddiiq dhamme concluded his speech that detentions will not deter him from criticizing the government or from discharging his duties for Waddani party.

Finally, Mr Dhamme was honored with the fortitude award by the leadership of Waddani party.