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SOMALIA: Radio Shabelle manager assassinated 

New York, October 19, 2007—The acting manager of the independent Somali station Radio Shabelle was assassinated outside his home in Mogadishu today by unknown gunmen, according to station employees and local journalists.  

Bashiir Noor Gedi was attempting to return to his home in the Hamar Jadid neighborhood after he and other Radio Shabelle employees had been holed up in the station for roughly a week because of a series of threats, according to journalists who spoke with his family. More than a dozen Radio Shabelle staffers were still inside the station’s headquarters tonight, fearful of leaving the premises, according to Radio Shabelle Chairman Abdimaalik Yusuf, who is in exile in London.  

“We condemn the brutal killing of Bashiir Noor Gedi and extend our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “The Somali transitional government must conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and ensure that all Radio Shabelle staff can return to their respective homes safely.”  

Shabelle, considered one of the leading stations in Somalia, has been harrassed, threatened, and attacked by both government security forces and insurgents because of its critical reporting of the ongoing violence in Mogadishu. Shabelle was forced to close for 15 days this fall before resuming its broadcasts on October 3. 

Shabelle halted its normal programming after the slaying, which occurred around 7 p.m., and started airing verses of from the Quran, the National Union of Somali Journalists reported. Management is debating whether it should continue broadcasting, Yusuf said.  

Gedi is the seventh Somali journalist killed this year. More than a dozen of his colleagues have fled in recent months in fear for their lives, according to CPJ research.

 

In Mogadishu:- Radio acting manager was killed as Police arrests Editor, ASOJ Condemns.

Mogadishu, October 19, 2007 

The Associated Somali Journalists ( ASOJ) was shocked by the news of the death of Bashir Nur Geddi, the acting Manager of leading Mogadishu independent radio Shabelle.

Mr. Geddi was killed by two unidentified gunmen while he was heading home, the wife of the deceased Mss Amina  tells the Alerts desk of ASOJ Minutes after the news emerged.

“We are very sad the death of our friend Bashir Nur Geddi, our condolence goes to the bereaved” Said Dahir abdulle Alasow the Chairman of ASOJ.

“We call the Government to investigate the case, and bring the perpetrators before the law” he added

Geddi will be the eight journalists killed in chaotic Somali since this year, more than 120 journalists fled to neighboring Kenya after received death threats, ASOJ Reports.

Radio Shabelle stopped Friday night the News and Programs, and Aired holly Quran recitation to mourn the death of slain acting manager, the radio suffered nowadays various troops storm, firing and arresting the workers.

Hours before the killing of the Media worker, government troops jailed a prominent Journalist and Editor of daily Ayamaha Press, Abdullahi Hassan Black.

“ we demand from the Police officials the Immediate release of Abudllahi Black, government is to give protection the journalist but not to deny  the freedom of expression and collecting news” said Dahir Abdulle Alasow the Chairperson of Associated Somali Journalist.