Mogadishu, April 13: Mogadishu-based radio stations stopped playing music Tuesday in compliance with an ultimatum issued by hardline Islamists 10 days ago, officials and journalists said.
“Today we see an official crackdown on the independent media… The local radio stations stopped playing any kind of music or songs after the deadline given by the Islamists came to an end,” said Mohamed Ibrahim, an official of the National Union of Somali Journalists.
“We denounce the move as a gross violation against the freedom of expression… because order after order means there will not be any independent media in this country,” he said.
All radio stations in both government and Islamist controlled areas of Mogadishu were affected by the ban imposed by the Hezb al-Islam militants, Ibrahim said.
Journalists and radio executives said they had complied with the ban for fear of reprisal. The Hezb al-Islam and the Al Qaeda-linked Shebab groups control much of war-wracked Mogadishu.
“We abide by their rules by abstaining from broadcasting music and songs and instead we are using traditional poems from today on,” said Mohamed Haji Bare, director general of Danan Radio.
“No one dares disobey the orders otherwise you put your life in danger,” said Osman Gure, the director of Radio Shabelle, a popular Mogadishu station.
Fourteen independent radio stations operate in Mogadishu, the scene of relentless fighting between government forces and Islamist rebels.
—Agencies