Somaliland lawyers who challenged arbitrary detentions face criminal prosecution, license revocation

Visits: 1037
(Rating 0.0/5 Stars) Total Votes: 0
0 0
Share via Social Media

Somaliland lawyers who challenged arbitrary detentions face criminal prosecution, license revocation

HARGEISA (HORN OBSERVER) – Five lawyers in Somaliland are currently facing threats of prosecution and potential license revocation after filing a case challenging the actions of the Somaliland National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Share

PHOTO: Maroodi Jeex Regional Court, Hargeisa.

HARGEISA (HORN OBSERVER) – Five lawyers in Somaliland are currently facing threats of prosecution and potential license revocation after filing a case challenging the actions of the Somaliland National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Documents reveal that Mustafa Hassan, the director general of the NIA, has called for criminal charges to be brought against the lawyers through the office of the attorney of the Somaliland armed forces.

The lawyers, namely Mubarik Mohamud Abdi, Mohamed Hussein Arale, Mohamud Abdirahman Nur, Mukhtar Dahir Jibril, and Hussein Shabeel Abdillahi, submitted a legal recommendation on March 9th.

This recommendation, endorsed by the Somaliland Lawyers Association, asserts that the NIA and military court lack the authority to detain and investigate civilians, including journalists, referencing recent incidents such as the raid and detention of MM Somali TV journalists in Hargeisa.

In response to the lawyers’ recommendation, the NIA has requested the military prosecutor to press criminal charges against them and urged the Somaliland Lawyers Association and the Ministry of Justice to revoke their licenses.

On March 16th, Colonel Yusuf Farah Sharma’arke, the military court prosecutor, wrote to the attorney general recommending criminal charges be brought against the lawyers, arguing that it is not their role to comment on national intelligence matters.

Subsequently, Somaliland Attorney General Abdirahman Jama Hayaan initiated criminal charges against the lawyers on March 19th and moved to revoke their licenses, though the Lawyers Association is reportedly seeking to challenge these actions.

As of now, none of the five lawyers have commented on the situation. However, the move to target the independent lawyers indicates the increasing pressure faced by members of civil society in Somaliland.