Somalia: Police Restrict Amina Ibrahim and Multiple Journalists From Covering Cemetery Exhumations
Women Press Freedom demands media be allowed immediate access to report issue of great concern for local community
Location: Somalia, Mogadishu
Date: June 11, 2024
Women Press Freedom denounces police harassment and unjust restrictions targeting independent media reporting on exhumations at a cemetery in Mogadishu. Police impeded journalists, including Amina Ibrahim, from interviewing those opposing the controversial government decision to exhume and relocate bodies from the graveyard. This obstruction of the media occurred in a context where public scrutiny and transparency are essential. By preventing journalists from accessing the cemetery, interviewing affected families, and documenting the exhumation process, the authorities are curtailing the media’s role in holding the government accountable and informing the public. We urge authorities to cease restricting media access and allow reporters to cover this pressing concern for the local community.
On June 11, 2024, a group of journalists from various independent media outlets were impeded by police at the School Polizia cemetery in Mogadishu. The cemetery, the final resting place for over 50,000 civilians and soldiers, became the center of public outrage following the Somali government's decision to exhume bodies for development reasons.
After arriving at the cemetery, Arlaadi Media Network journalist Amina Ibrahim and her colleagues encountered resistance from a police officer, who verbally harassed them and denied them access to the site.
The journalists stated that they were speaking to concerned and traumatized people with relatives buried in the graveyard. Some of them said they were asked for money in exchange for "approval to remove the remains of their loved ones.”
While attempting to conduct interviews with affected people, journalists were forced to leave, severely hampering their ability to report.
The following day cameraman Abdifatah Hassan Mohamed from Radio Kulmiye was briefly detained by police officers at the cemetery. His equipment was confiscated, and he was held for several hours before being released after the station paid a fee of $20 to the authorities. The area has since been heavily guarded by armed police, further preventing journalists from accessing the site and continuing their reporting.
Despite attempts by local journalist organizations to seek clarification from police spokespersons regarding the restrictions imposed on the press, no official response has been provided.
Women Press Freedom denounces the Mogadishu police actions as deliberate attempts to suppress independent media coverage and withhold critical information from the public. Journalists play a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability, particularly in situations affecting thousands of families. We demand that all stakeholders involved respect press freedom and facilitate unrestricted media coverage of the developments at the School Polizia cemetery.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.