MOGADISHU, Somalia – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) today protests the decision of Islamist movement to ban journalists working for Radio Shabelle, an independent radio station in Mogadishu, to carry out their media work in areas under their control.

Ahlasunah Waljama Islamic movement issued this order after Radio Shabelle released “news report that is contrary to movement”, according to spokesperson of Ahlasunah Waljama Sheik Abdirisak Mohamed Ash’ari. Radio Shabelle journalists are consequently not able to report from central regions.

“We call on Ahlasunah Waljama to immediately lift the ban on Radio Shabelle journalists since there are absolutely no grounds for their accusations,” said Omar Faruk Osman NUSOJ Secretary General. “It is vital for journalists to be able to freely cover the daily news without fear of being arrested, banned, roughed up or expelled by the Islamic movement”.

Ahlasunah Waljama Islamic movement further accused Radio Shabelle, leading independent radio station in Somalia for “making provocation of war” in the central regions and making attempts to divide “Islamic movement”.