Hargeisa (SD) – In a recent advocacy workshop organized the Somaliland journalist association Solja, reporters discussed the issue of media criminalization and appealed to the country’s high court to intervene.

“The Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) and the media community in general call on the Supreme Court of the Republic of Somaliland to immediately intervene in the case filed by the organization on August 23, 2020, to completely stop the criminalization of the media industry and to abolish the General Penal Code and replace it with the civil law as enshrined in the Somaliland Press Law 27/2004 and other civil law.” said Solja in a statement.

Journalist in Somaliland has in recent years experienced an increased criminalization among other injustices, in country that prides its self as the most democratic in its region.

“As Somaliland is a democratic country with rules and constitutions which the media industry is based on, we once again suggest that media issues be processed through a timely civil proceedings.” Said Solja.

The media advocacy group reiterated to implement the press laws “while respecting the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland, considers that violations of the media industry are subject to civil law, in accordance with the Somaliland Press Law.”