The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns in the strongest terms possible following the murder of a media worker in Mogadishu on Saturday morning, on August 17, 2013, bringing the number of journalists and media workers killed this year to six.
Unknown assailants disguised as students shot Eng. Ahmed Sharif, who worked at the state run radio Mogadishu as a technician and helped troubleshoot other radio stations in Mogadishu, outside his home in Shibis neighborhood on Saturday morning, according to witnesses and officials. The assailants reportedly shot four times at the chest, stomach and heart.
He was immediately rushed to Keysaney Hospital, where he was proclaimed died.
“Unknown gunmen wearing school uniform shot him four times at the chest, heart and stomach and fled immediately from the scene.” Abdirahim Isse Addow, Director of Radio Mogadishu said.
It was not immediately clear the reasons behind the killing and no group claimed the responsibility of the attack.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns this heinous murder in the strongest terms possible and urge the Somali government to carry out urgent investigations into the murder and bring the killers to court. NUSOJ also sends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and families of late Sharif.
“Targeting the media workers in an acceptable and we condemn this heinous murder in the strongest terms possible.” Mohamed Ibrahim, Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists said, “We demand swift investigations to bring the killers to book.”
“We send out deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and friends late Sharif and ask Allah to reward him in Jannah.” Mr. Ibrahim added.
Several media directors who spoke with NUSOJ, said that they will really miss him as he helped in setting up their radio stations.
In a separate incident, the Somali military court executed to death penalty against a man convicted of the killing against the radio journalist Hassan Yusuf Absuge who was assassinated on September 2012 in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid neighborhood.
A regional military court sentenced the alleged criminal to death on 17 March 2013, according to the court judgment received by NUSOJ.
Later, he appealed against the ruling to the Military high court. On August 3, the military high court sentenced again to death and announced he will be executed in a short time.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) called the ruling a step forward getting justice for the murdered Somali journalists as the ruling sends strong message to the other journalists’ killers.
