The Abduction, Unlawful Detention, Torture and Hacking Against Our Colleague Journalist Mohamed Bulbul

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The Abduction, Unlawful Detention, Torture and Hacking Against Our Colleague Journalist Mohamed Bulbul

PRESS RELEASE - By Kaab TV

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Journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul abducted in Mogadishu since 17 August, 2023 and is unlawfully held incommunicado.

PRESS RELEASE - By Kaab TV

We, the editorial team of Kaab TV, strongly condemn the abduction and continued unlawful detention of our esteemed colleague, journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul. Mr. Bulbul, who is a dedicated press freedom advocate and serves as the Secretary of Information and Human Rights for the Somali Journalists Syndicate, has been unlawfully detained since August 17, 2023. His detention followed his courageous reporting on a news story that shed light on the complaints of Somali police officers regarding the alleged misappropriation of per diems earmarked for their 46-day training seminar, funded by the European Union’s EUCAP Somalia. The report was broadcast on August 17, 2023.

On August 13, 2023, the Kaab TV editorial team reached out to EUCAP Somalia, seeking clarification on these allegations and affording them the opportunity to respond. We also made efforts to contact the police commanders involved. Regrettably, neither party responded to our inquiries.

Our colleague, Bulbul, was forcibly abducted by plain-clothed national intelligence officers in Mogadishu on the day following the news report. For hours, we were unable to ascertain his whereabouts, and he has since been held incommunicado and has been tortured several times during interrogation.

Disturbingly, we have received information indicating that the police and national intelligence agencies unlawfully breached Mr. Bulbul’s phone devices, heightening our concerns regarding privacy and security breaches.

We emphasize that journalism is not a crime, and we express our deep concern regarding EUCAP Somalia’s alleged involvement in Mr. Bulbul’s abduction and ongoing persecution—a direct violation of the core principles of the European Union and the EU Charter. We have learned that the police are sadly citing EUCAP communication as a basis for detaining and persecuting our colleague.

Furthermore, we strongly denounce the unauthorized access to our colleague’s phone devices and call for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the potential involvement and use of EUCAP resources in the hacking of Mr. Bulbul’s devices.

(Source: Kaab TV)