The Family and the friends of Mr. Mohamed Abdiahmaan Ismail a Somaliland journalist who was beaten and tortured during police custody in Borama,  which is the third-largest city in the breakaway Republic of Somaliland are planning to file a criminal case in UK court against Mr. Ahmed Haddi Sidi former London based community coordinator, who is now the governor of Awdal region in west Somaliland.

The allegation against the governor came to light after 22 years-old journalist Mohamed Abdirahman Ismail suffered torture and ill-treatment during police custody late last month.

It has been reported that the journalist was beaten by four police officers allegedly order by the governor himself, together with the head of the police in the area Mr. Abdirahman Arawelo, but so far none of the two men have commented or denied the allegations against them.

The arrested journalist Mr. Mahamed Abdirahman Ismail who is now in Addis Ababa hospital has suffered internal wounds and body injuries such as broken collarbone and fractured ribs.

The reports from the area are stating that the accused regional governor has been unease with many local reporters since he came into the office, and there is also rumours that the governor publicly vowed to unleash a war against any local reporter who criticized the government.

One of the local community leaders based in London announced the case against Mr. Ahmed Sidi last week during community meeting in west London, and he asked the wider Awdal community to support the criminal case against the regional Governor.

The organizers of the case also contacted the UK’s international Human Rights and senior body from the organization promised to look into the alleged case against Mr. Ahmed Sidi who was naturalized as British citizen.

There are a number of British subjects serving in Somaliland government since Mr. Siilaanyo won the 2010 presidential election, but this will be the first criminal case against British subjects serving in Somaliland’ government tried in a UK court if the case succeeds.

UK Overseas  Observers Group

Quljeednet.com