At least three FM radio stations and a TV station in Somalia were today ordered to close down. A decree issued by the security department of the Somali government ordered the Shabelle Media Network, Horn Afrik, IQK and Aljazeera TV stations in Mogadishu to be shut down.
The decree says, “From today 15 January, 2007 the above mentioned radio and TV stations to halt their broadcasting operations as soon they receive this decree. The managements of the media are being informed to come to the government security department that lies in Bar FIAT in Mogadishu on Tuesday”.
All radio stations instantly went off air. The news comes as all local and foreign journalists were busy covering the events in Somalia. In the past the Islamic Courts have closed down some of the local FM radios in the country after they broadcast music and songs. The government did not specifically justify why the free media in Somalia was shut down.
(Source: Shabelle Media Network)
The decree says, “From today 15 January, 2007 the above mentioned radio and TV stations to halt their broadcasting operations as soon they receive this decree. The managements of the media are being informed to come to the government security department that lies in Bar FIAT in Mogadishu on Tuesday”.
All radio stations instantly went off air. The news comes as all local and foreign journalists were busy covering the events in Somalia. In the past the Islamic Courts have closed down some of the local FM radios in the country after they broadcast music and songs. The government did not specifically justify why the free media in Somalia was shut down.
(Source: Shabelle Media Network)
Additional information may be obtained via:
(Source: Bob Grove, Monitoring Times)
