SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS IN SOMALIA

Early day motion 2638, tabled 24 January 2012 by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour). Signed by 47 members.

That this House is concerned about the ongoing threats to, and arrests and killing of journalists in Somalia; condemns the mass arrest of journalists without charge in Somaliland; believes that these arrests are an attempt to intimidate journalists into notcovering news stories critical of the governing authorities; is appalled at the killing of journalist Abdisalan Sheik Hassan, who was shot dead on 18 December 2011; equally condemns the killing of journalists Farah Hasan Sahel, Noramfaizul Mohd Nor and Abdiaziz Ahmed Aden, who were killed in 2011; supports the efforts of the National Union of Somali Journalists andits members who perform a crucial role in reporting in Somalia against a background of violence and intimidation for carrying out their jobs; and urges the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to raise the issues of organised and continuing threats against journalists in Somalia as a matter of urgency with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 7, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Alliance 1, Conservative 1, Green 1, Independent 1.