User:Crtew/Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan

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  • Comment: I'm confused as to what this article is REALLY about. If the article is purely about Hassan, as a Somali journalist, then whereas he may be notable--the references provided do not yet establish notability, as they do not provide coverage of him as a journalist, rather only of his death. If the article is claiming Hassan is notable as journalist based on how he died, then he doesn't appear to meet the notability criteria. Please see WP:Victim and WP:1E. On the other hand, if this article is about the Hassan incident and the implications of his death on journalism in the region, then the article needs to be retooled. See WP:1E. If so, the article will need a new name, perhaps the "Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan incident" and then it will have to be rewritten accordingly. Dalisays (talk) 04:29, 30 April 2012 (UTC)
Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan
Born1973?
Died18 December 2011
Medina, Somalia
Nationality (legal)Somali
OccupationJournalist
AgentHorn Cable TV

Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan (1973?- 18 December 2011) was a Somali broadcast journalist for Horn Cable TV, as well as Hamar Radio and Voice of Democracy in Mogadishu, Somalia. He is one of 24 Somali journalists who has been killed since 2007.[1] According to the New York Times, a suspect was apprehended, which is unusual as there has been impunity in every case reported.[2]

Personal[edit]

Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan was 38 years old and was born in 1973[3] Hassan lived in Mogadishu, Somalia, and was married and the father of four children.[4]

Career[edit]

Hassan, known as "Xiis" by his colleagues, worked as a broadcast reporter and freelancer[5] Hassan worked at Horn Cable TV as a local reporter and at the radio station Hamar radio and voice of democracy.[4] He did receive death threats by phone before he was killed.[6] He was a well respected journalist, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists and New York Times.[7][2]

Horn Cable TV director had this to say about Hassan 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."[8]

Death[edit]

Somalia has been in a state of civil war since 1991.

Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan covered a session of parliament where a political conflict ensued and after his reporting of the incident, he receieved death threats.[9] He told fellow colleagues about the threats.[4]

Hassan was murdered in the Hamar Jabar district, also referred to as "Hamar-jajab", which is a central part of the Mogadishu district in Somolia on December 18, 2011.[9] The shooting happened around four in the afternoon.[3] He was driving to a press conference along with fellow reporter Zakariye Abdulahi,when their vehicle was intercepted by a man wearing a government uniform.[10] The man opened fire on Hassan using an AK47 and fired 2 shots into his head.[11] The passenger in the vehicle was left unharmed. He was rushed to a local hospital in Medina where he died shortly after arrival.

Context[edit]

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.[12] 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 people. Military forces from both Kenya and Ethiopia have been sent to Somalia to push back the Al-Shabaab militants.[13]

Impact[edit]

The murder of Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan has brought more attention to the issue of impunity for killing journalists as his murder could be the first to lead to a successful prosecution for the crime.[2]

Reactions[edit]

The death of Hassan brought strong reactions from fellow journalists and authorities.

The media community of Somalia reacted by holding a national burial for him, which was organized by the National Union of Somali Journalists, and fellow journalists fasted and mourned him for 24 hours. They also created posters asking for justice for all slain journalists.[14]

Various government officials expressed their sympathy and said that they will try to find the murderer and seek justice.

Tom Rhodes, who is the CPJ's East Africa consultant, said, "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."

Irina Bokova, who is the director-general of UNESCO, said, "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 and rule of law. I therefore call on the transitional government to investigate this crime against a journalist and against society as a whole."[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Somalia: Journalist Killing Highlights Need For International Action On Impunity". Qaranimo.com. January 31, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Ibrahim, Mohammed (December 29, 2011). "Foreign Aid Worker Is Killed and Colleague Is Wounded in Somali Capital". New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2012. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help) Cite error: The named reference "nytimes" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2011-12-20). "Refworld | Journalists Killed in 2011 - Motive Confirmed: Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan". UNHCR. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  4. ^ a b c "Somali government should probe journalist's murder | New Somalia". Newsomali.com. December 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-25. Cite error: The named reference "newsomali1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Reporter shot dead in Mogadishu is fourth journalist killed this year in Somalia - Reporters Without Borders". En.rsf.org. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  6. ^ Louk, Malysa Stratton (Jan 30, 2012). "Somalia journalist gunned down outside his home; threats continue". Digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  7. ^ "Prominent Somali Journalist assassinated in Mogadishu". Nusoj.org.so. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  8. ^ Somali government should probe journalist's murder (2011-12-19). "Somali government should probe journalist's murder - Committee to Protect Journalists". Cpj.org. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  9. ^ a b Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan. "Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan - Journalists Killed - Committee to Protect Journalists". Cpj.org. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  10. ^ "Somalia: Journalist killed by man in soldier uniform". Index on Censorship. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  11. ^ "Kulmiye Radio :: Mogadishu, Somalia". kulmiyenews.com. 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  12. ^ "BBC News - Somalia profile - Overview". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  13. ^ "Somalia". State.gov. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  14. ^ "Somalia: Somali Media Community Held a National Burial for Late Journalist Abdilasan Sheikh Hassan(Hiis) and Demanded Justice for the Killing | Center for International Media Assistance". Cima.ned.org. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  15. ^ Source: Unescopress (2011-12-20). "Director-General condemns murder of Somali journalist Abdisalam Sheikh Hassan | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". Unesco.org. Retrieved 2012-04-25.


Category:1973 births Category:2010 deaths Category:African journalists Category:Deaths by firearm in Somalia Category:Journalists killed in Somalia Category:Journalists killed while covering military conflicts Category:Murdered journalists Category:Somalian victims of crime Category:Somalian journalists

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