Somalia – PRESS RELEASE Front Line Defenders: Assassination attempt on staff of Khalif Huudow Human Rights Organisation

On 25 March 2013, an assassination attempt was carried out on human rights defenders Mr Yusuf Osman Mohamed and Ms Hawa Omar Ahmed, as they were conducting a field investigation into the killing of a radio journalist a day prior. Yusuf Osman Mohamed is Head of Monitoring and Hawa Omar Ahmed a field monitor at Khalif Huudow Human Rights Organisation (KAHRO), a human rights organisation founded in 2003 in Mogadishu. Named after the founder of the Somali Youth League, the organisation is active in the areas of Merka, Afgoye, Mogadishu and Benadir.

 On 25 March 2013, Yusuf Osman Mohamed and Hawa Omar Ahmed were conducting a fact finding mission in Towfiiq village, located in the Yaqshiid district of Mogadishu, into the killing of radio journalist Ms Rahmo Abdulkadir, who was shot dead in the area a day prior by two unidentified gunmen. Rahmo Abdulkadir worked for local radio station Abudwaq Radio in the district of Abudwaq in Galgaduud region. At 1.10pm, as the human rights defenders were interviewing local people, they were confronted by four unidentified individuals carrying guns. The assailants attempted to shoot Yusuf Osman Mohamed and Hawa Omar Ahmed but the human rights defenders managed to escape. Hawa Omar Ahmed was reportedly driven away to safety by individuals that had gathered in the area, while Yusuf Osman Mohamed subsequently escaped by taxi. Both human rights defenders were placed in a safe location but are in fear for their lives.

 Front Line Defenders condemns the assassination attempt perpetrated against Yusuf Osman Mohamed and Hawa Omar Ahmed, which it believes to be directly motivated by their legitimate and peaceful work in investigating human rights violations in Somalia, and expresses serious concern for their security and physical and psychological integrity, as well as the security of other staff members of Khalif Huudow Human Rights Organisation.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Somalia to:

 1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the assassination attempt on Yusuf Osman Mohamed and Hawa Omar Ahmed, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

 2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned human rights defenders, as well as other staff members of KAHRO, with a view to effectively meeting their protection needs;

 3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders and journalists in Somalia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.