Thirty-five members of IFEX, a worldwide coalition of free expression organisations, voiced their support to Somali media’s rejection of the current draft media law and urged the government of Somalia “not to send the law to parliament until you ensure the final version respects, protects and promotes press freedom, in line with Somalia’s national and international commitments.”

In a joint letter, the free expression organisations welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in which he demonstrated his “willingness for this draft to be further amended in order to protect and promote media freedom,” which the letter added, is  “a bold and positive commitment from a Prime Minister who acts in favour of media freedom.”

The freedom of expression groups said, “As you know, there was a strong reaction to this draft media law from the independent media. It is clear that the media community does not support this draft law, and their legitimate concerns need to be added to the draft before it is discussed by parliament.

“The draft law regulates all media outlets – electronic and print – which runs counter to international standards on media freedom. It also gives broad powers to a proposed National Media Council, which would work under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and would not therefore be independent, particularly as the process of appointing members is a government-led and controlled activity, with the majority of its members to be appointed from the Ministry of Information and the parliament. Media owners are totally excluded from the proposed council’s membership. The draft legislation accordingly fails to promote press freedom nor does it mediate disputes objectively. 

“Furthermore, several provisions of this draft law are vague and lack clarity. The draft law leaves numerous key terms undefined such as “security”, “good culture” “public interest” and “national stability”, and it requires journalists to reveal their confidential sources and media houses to name unnamed reporters if they are called to do so in a court of law. 

“The draft law also seems to discriminate against journalists working for foreign media organisations. It makes it easy for foreign reporters and their organisations to lose their accreditation during investigations and judicial processes against them. 

“The draft law further specifies ethical rules that journalists must follow in practicing their profession. In established democracies, ethics of journalism must not be predetermined in media law or any other constitution. It is left for journalists to decide and only for journalists or self-regulating media bodies to set the rules of ethical conduct.

“Adequate consultations on the law have yet to take place with media stakeholders. A meeting in February 2013 involved only some 17 media and telecommunication company representatives, while the majority of media outlets were not present. Even the media in Mogadishu was not broadly involved, let alone media in the entire country. The law was not shared with the media before the Council of Ministers was presented with the draft, which it passed on 11 July. Indeed, broader consultations are needed for such an important process considering that the country is composed of diverse regions and states.

“The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), a member of IFEX, fears that the draft law can be easily misused for political purposes and that it could contradict the principle of the separation of powers and of the checks and balances typical of true democracies. 

“Somali journalists and their media houses have suffered tremendously and many have been killed. They do not expect the new federal government to pass a repressive media law that curtails the freedom they paid for with such a heavy price.

“To strengthen the voice of the media, we urge you not to send the law to parliament until you ensure the final version respects, protects and promotes press freedom, in line with Somalia’s national and international commitments.”

The joint appeal was initiated by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), and has been signed by 35 IFEX members as follows:

1. National Union of Somali Journalists
2. Adil Soz – International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech
3. Afghanistan Journalists Center
4. Africa Freedom of Information Centre
5. Albanian Media Institute
6. Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
7. Association of Caribbean Media Workers
8. Bahrain Center for Human Rights
9. Cambodian Center for Human Rights
10. Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
11. Cartoonists Rights Network International
12. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
13. Center for Media Studies & Peace Building
14. Centre for Independent Journalism
15. Freedom House
16. Globe International
17. Human Rights Network for Journalists – Uganda
18. I’lam Media Center for Arab Palestinians in Israel
19. Index on Censorship
20. Initiative for Freedom of Expression – Turkey
21. Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information
22. International Federation of Journalists
23. International Press Institute
24. Journaliste en danger
25. Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
26. Media Foundation for West Africa
27. Media Rights Agenda
28. Media Watch
29. Pacific Freedom Forum
30. Pacific Islands News Association
31. Pakistan Press Foundation
32. Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms – MADA
33. Public Association “Journalists”
34. Reporters Without Borders
35. World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers