Journalist’s Conviction for Investigating Alleged Rape Upheld on Appeal, Sentence Halved
PEN International welcomes the March 3, 2013, reduction of Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim’s prison sentence on appeal from one year to six months for interviewing a woman allegedly raped by security forces. PEN also welcomes the acquittal of the alleged rape victim. However, it continues to call for Ibrahim’s conviction to be quashed and for his immediate and unconditional release.
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Background Information
On March 3, 2013, the Somali Court of Appeal reduced the prison sentence of Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, a freelance journalist who has reported for several local and international news outlets including Dalsan Radio, Badri Media Productions and the UK-based Daily Telegraph, from one year to six months. Ibrahim was convicted of insulting a government body, spreading false news, and inducing false evidence, among other charges, in February 2013. The judge presiding over the appeal reportedly stated that Ibrahim had not respected the laws of the country and the ethics of journalism by failing to report his interview with the alleged rape victim to the authorities, which meant that his conviction for offending the state and spreading “false news” was upheld.
Write A Letter
- Welcoming the reduction of freelance journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim’s prison sentence on appeal from one year to six months and the acquittal of the alleged rape victim whom Ibrahim interviewed;
- Calling on the Somali authorities to quash Ibrahim’s conviction and to release him immediately and unconditionally;
- Calling upon the Somali authorities to allow Ibrahim full access to lawyers, doctors, and family members, until such time as he is released.
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