Somalian journalist who has accused male colleagues of sexual assault. The allegations have drawn international attention., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
UN in Somalia wants 'proper investigation' in arrest of alleged rape victim, journalist
The woman, a 19-year-old reporter, talked on camera to independent Radio Shabelle in the troubled African country. She accused colleagues of raping her at gunpoint. She and her interviewer were later arrested by police.
BY DEBORAH HASTINGS
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013, 5:38 PM
A Somali journalist, seen here giving an interview to independent Radio Shabelle, has been arrested in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu after telling of being raped. The interviewer was also taken into custody.
The United Nations in Somalia demanded an open investigation into the arrest of a reporter who claimed she had been raped by her colleagues, and gave a videotaped interview about the alleged incident to another journalist, who was also arrested.
Rape is a pervasive problem in the embattled African country. Talking about it publicly carries the risk of arrest by police and ostracism by society.
The woman told independent Radio Shabelle reporter Mohamed Bashir Hashi she had been assaulted and raped at gunpoint by two male colleagues. The interview was broadcast on the news outlet's website earlier this week.
"One of the men threatened me with a pistol, and took me to the bedroom by force … both of them raped me several times, destroying my pride and dignity," she said, according to a translation by Agence France Presse.
The woman and her alleged attackers work for state-owned Radio Mogadishu. Neither man has been arrested.
Nicholas Kay of the United Nations in Somalia said Thursday the international organization is monitoring the case, saying "legal representation, proper investigation and media freedom (are) important issues."
The woman and Bashir remain in custody.
They were charged Wednesday with defamation after the woman's colleagues said she had lied.
"Police told us they are facing defamation charges and will be taken to court," said Mohamed Ibrahim, the head of Somalia's national union of journalists.
Radio Shabelle, an upstart news agency that rebels against censorship, was briefly shut down last month after soldiers stormed its offices and forced everyone out.
The arrests are the latest in a series affecting women and journalists who reveal accounts of rape.
In March, a woman and a reporter sentenced to a year in prison for "offending state institutions" were released from jail after an international outcry from groups including Human Rights Watch.
In August, a woman alleged she was gang-raped by soldiers and was detained for police questioning.
With News Wire Services
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/somali-woman-journalist-arrest-rape-claims-article-1.1524924#ixzz2lLmmqs33
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