SOMALIA: Hargeysa court sentences one year jail term to prominent elder
Xuquuqda Qoraalada, sawirada iyo warbixin kasta waxay gaar u tahay Raxanreeb.com (RBC Radio). Lama adeegsan karo, dib looma daabici karo, lama baahin karo ama kambayuutar laguma keydsan karo si toos ah iyo si dadban intuba, haddii aan fasax laga heysan maamulka Raxanreeb.com (RBC Radio). Fadlan hana xadin
By: Abdalle Ahmed
Mogadishu (RBC) Somaliland’s Hargeysa regional court on Sunday sentenced one year jail term to Boqor Osman Mohamud Burmadow, a prominent traditional elder who was arrested in March, RBC Radio reports.
He was charged of being affront on the Somaliland leaders and that he was opposing the secessionist policy of the breakaway region.
The court prosecution Hassan Adam said that the elder was found guilty according to article 156 which implies the punishment of those who are rude to the authority.
Mubarak Jamac Aar, the elder’s lawyer reacted to the court conviction which he said was politically motivated.
“We cannot accept such politically motivated decision. We shall appeal against this conviction soon”, he told reporters outside the court room just as the hearing ended.
The elder who was arrested on March 15th shortly after he returned from abroad, has been in Hargeisa main prison without court trial. He has faced first court hearing in April 9th and rebuffed all the charges against him.
Boqor Burmadow, who hails from northern Somalia, has been known for his efforts of reconciliation for rival clans in northern Somalia after the collapse of Somalia’s former central government in 1991. His arrest drew large criticism from human rights organizations and local elders who demanded to free the elder.
RBC Radio
