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Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan (? - 18 December 18 2011) was a Somalian freelance broadcast journalist who was also a member of The Shabelle Media Network. He is one of the 24 Somali journalists who has been murdered since 2007.He wrote about human rights and shed light to government corruption. He was a well respected journalist whose death has brought a strong demand for justice for the Somali journalists.

Personal

Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan was 38 years old and was born in 1973 Hassan lived in Somalia and was married and the father of four children.

Career

Abdisalan, known as Xiis by his colleagues worked as a freelance broadcast reporter. He often covered human rights issues and exposed government corruption in his journalism. Hassan worked at Horn Cable TV as a local reporter and at the radio station Hamar radio and voice of democracy. Abdisalan was also a member of the Shabelle Media Network. Shabelle Media Network is is basically an uncensored radio station in Somalia. This media network gave Abdisalan an outlet to report about the government corruption, extortion, and the militia. He was a very well respected journalist in his field and considered to be one of the best. Horn Cable TV director had this to say about Abdisalan and his career, “Hassan was a very tough, professional journalist who relayed very neutral coverage of both sides of the conflict, I don't suspect he had any vendettas and cannot understand why anyone would target such a professional and likeable journalist."

Death

Abdisalan’s murder took place on December 18, 2011 around four in the afternoon. He was driving to a press conference along with a fellow reporter when their vehicle was intercepted by a man wearing a government uniform. The man opened fire on Abdisalan using an AK47 and fired 2 shots into his head. The passenger in the vehicle was left unharmed. Abdisalan was rushed to a local hospital in Medina where he died shortly after arrival. He is the 24th Somali journalist to be killed since 2007 and the 5th Shabelle Media Network journalist to be killed since 2007. A couple weeks before the murder Abdisalan told fellow journalists and reporters that he had received death threats on his cell phone.

Context

Somalia is the most dangerous place in Africa for journalists. Somalia has been without an effective central government ever since former president Siad Barre was overthrown 1991, and the U.S. Embassay in Somalia has been closed ever since. Somalia now has a Transitional government called the Transitional Federal Government. Extremist groups including Al-Shabaab have begun taking power in Somalia, thus limiting the transitional government’s power to provide services and protect the people of Somalia. Military forces from both Kenya and Ethiopia have been sent to Somalia to push back the Al- Shabaab militants.

Impact

The murder of Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan has brought a lot more attention to the dangers that journalist in Somalia face every day. It is important for all people to be aware of the tragedies that are going on In Somalia and the consequences that reporters and journalists face just for doing their jobs. The attacks of these journalists must stop and action against the perpetrators must be taken! His death has sparked something in many journalists and advocates to fight against the crimes against journalists in Somalia. Hopefully Abdisalan's murder will be the first of its kind to be brought to justice and have someone prosecuted for the crime.

Reactions

The death of Abdisalan caused a lot of strong and emotional reactions from fellow journalists and other people of authority. CPJ East Africa consultant Tom Rhodes expressed his thoughts on the issue by saying this, "We condemn the heinous assassination of Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan The Somali government must lead a thorough and transparent investigation and break a pattern of impunity for killers of journalists." People are finally demanding justice for the crimes against the Somali journalists. The media community of Somalia showed their reactions by holding a National burial for abdisalan. The National Union of Somali Journalist also known as NUSOJ arranged the national burial. Fellow journalists showed expressed their feelings about the murder by fasting and mourning for 24 hrs. They also created posters asking for justice for all slain journalists. Various government officials expressed their sympathy and said that they will try to find the murderer and seek justice .So far no one has been charged with Abdisalan’s death. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova also made a statement about the murder,“I condemn the murder of Abdisalam Sheikh Hassan, Securing safer working conditions must be made into a priority in Somalia’s effort to establish democracy."