SOMALIA: TIGAAD shocked by murder of Horn Afrik Media Director,
Mogadishu, February 4, 2009-TIGAAD;s media Staffs Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement today after the shooting Tuesday of Horn Afrik radio station director, Said Tahlil, in Mogadishu, Somalia.
"We are shocked by the killing of Said Tahlil and send our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues," said TIGAAD's Program Coordinator, Ali Geyland declared.
"Tahlil and other brave journalists in Mogadishu who continue to work under extremely dangerous conditions must be supported. We call on the new Somalia administration to make every effort to protect journalists."
TIGAAD strongly condemns today's vicious assassination of Said Tahlil Ahmed, Director of HornAfrik Radio in Mogadishu at around 14:45 hrs local time.
"This is an outrageous and awful assassination" said Ali Geyland Director General of TIGAAD "Said Tahlil Ahmed was assassinated because of his strong and professional commitment for independent journalism".
Said Tahlil Ahmed was courageous, veteran and well-respected journalist. "Somali journalists community have lost today a leading journalist who was killed by enemies of press freedom with the intention of instilling fear in the hearts of journalists", Ali declared.
"Enough is enough, the government of President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and the International community has to act swiftly to end targeted violence against journalists" Ali appealed.
Said Tahlil Ahmed is the second journalist killed in Somalia since the start of the year. Hassan Mayow Hassan of Radio Shabelle was the first journalist killed in the world in this year as he was killed on 1st January.
