Journalist released via Puntland presidential pardon

Kilwe Adan Farah, a journalist who was last week sentenced to three years was today released under Puntland state presidential pardon after spending close to 90 days in jail.

Kilwe was detained by Puntland’s Intelligence Agency (PISA) in Garowe on 27 December 2020 a day after he reported anti-inflation protest in Garowe which irritated the Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni.

He was held incommunicado for 16 days before he appeared before a military court on 11 January 2021 when he was charged with “murder and attempted murder”.  Military prosecutors altered the charges three times since then.

The journalist was sentenced to serve three years in jail by a high military on 17th of this month.

But he was pardoned by a decree signed Monday by Puntland leader, Saed Abdullahi Deni.

The release was welcomed by Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) Secretary General, Abdalla Ahmed Mumin.

“While we take the Puntland president’s decree to pardon as a welcome gesture, we still believe that Kilwe is innocent. We call for Puntland authorities to immediately start investigating those who detained, tortured and abused through military court,” Mumin said.

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