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Bar-Kulan
Reporter recovers in Hospital, after surviving Assassination
attempt
Mogadishu, June 10, 2012
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), is relieved
the recovery of Bar-Kulan Radio reporter and one of its member
journalists in Benadir branch after he survived an assassination
attempt on Friday evening June 8, 2012 in Mogadishu's Hamar-jajab
neighborhood.
Two unknown assailants armed with pistols shot him twice Mohamed
Noor Mohamed better known as Mohamed Sharif below the heart
which penetrated the back and the stomach on Friday evening
June 8, 2012 around 7:30pm local time near Horn Cable Television
office in Hamarjajab neighborhood as he was returning from work.
The attackers fled the area immediately, according to witnesses.
Two journalists helped rush the wounded journalist to Madina
Hospital, where he went under a successful surgery.
Union officials and member journalists came together to help
in the recovery and treatment of Mohamed providing life-saving
blood transfusion, he is now recovering in hospital having undergone
surgery. On Saturday, he was transferred to AMISOM Hospital
where he is recovering.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemned
the incident in the strongest terms possible and called for
the Transitional Federal Government to urgently probe the incident
and bring the criminals to justice. The NUSOJ has been actively
engaged in helping its member journalists at difficult times.
"It was unfortunate incident that happens to our members
every time and we must say we are lucky enough, our colleague
survived from the assassination attempt," Abdirashid Abdulle
Abikar, NUSOJ Treasurer and Press Freedom Coordinator and a
veteran AFP Photographer who was leading the group of the member
journalists told the news media in a press conference in Mogadishu
on Saturday, "We hope our colleague a speedy recovery and
urge the Transitional Federal Government to carry out urgent
investigations into the incident and along other murders."
Radio Bar Kulan, which is an UN-funded radio station and one
of the leading radio stations in Somalia with its journalists
paid on the best standards in line with the international standards
of employment besides their membership to the union, also condemned
the incident in a statement released by the station.
"We at Radio Bar Kulan believe in peace for all Somalis.
We are all appalled by this evil attack on one of our professional
and most esteemed colleagues. Mohamed was a fearless journalist
and we are not cowed. We are doing everything we can to help
him and his family during this difficult time," Salah Osman
Dirye, the senior news editor of Radio Bar Kulan, said "The
world cannot ignore the campaign of assassinations that is being
launched against Somali journalists. A vibrant media is the
lifeblood of a strong and stable country, and must be protected."
The radio station was respected for its brave editorial line
in highlighting the violent and tyrannical rule of the foreign-backed
extremists.
So far this year six journalists and media workers were killed
in Somalia in five months making one of the deadliest places
for journalists and media workers to operate. <END>
Photo
caption: Abdirashid Abdulle Abikar (Deyl), Union treasurer and
press freedom coordinator (left), journalists and family members
transfer the journalist from Madina Hospital where he went under
a surgery to AMISOM Hospital in Halane on Saturday. Photo Credit:
NUSOJ
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