Somaliland poet jailed for Somalia reunification poetry

Nacima Qorane was found guilty of bringing the state into
contempt by advocating for Somaliland to reunite with Somalia.

Pressure groups in Somaliland said Ms Qorane’s basic human
rights have been violated.

Somaliland self-declared independence in 1991, but is not
recognised internationally.

Ms Qorane was arrested in January after returning from the
Somali capital Mogadishu, where prosecutors said she had recited
poetry calling for Somali unity.

After a ferocious civil war, north-west Somalia broke away from
the rest of the country and declared itself as an independent
Somaliland.

The territory is home to about 3.5 million people.

In February 2018, the self-declared republic agreed to allow the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) to set up a military base in the coastal
port of Berbera, as part of the UAE’s fight against Yemen’s Houthi
rebels.

The prosecution said that she had labelled the self-declared
republic of Somaliland a “region” and “insulted and defamed” its
government.

Somaliland’s Human Rights Centre has asked the government of
Somaliland to release Nacima Qorane and respect human rights.

Its director, Guleid Ahmed Jama, told the BBC that it was “very
concerned about the conviction and sentencing of Nacima
Qorane”.

“Freedom of expression is enshrined and protected by the
constitution of Somaliland. We urge the government of Somaliland to
respect its own constitution,” he said.

A number of other artists and journalists have been arrested in
Somaliland for the same offence.

BBC

Nacima Qorane was found guilty of bringing the state into
contempt by advocating for Somaliland to reunite with
Somalia.

Pressure groups in Somaliland said Ms Qorane’s basic human
rights have been violated.

Somaliland self-declared independence in 1991, but is not
recognised internationally.

Ms Qorane was arrested in January after returning from the
Somali capital Mogadishu, where prosecutors said she had recited
poetry calling for Somali unity.

After a ferocious civil war, north-west Somalia broke away from
the rest of the country and declared itself as an independent
Somaliland.

The territory is home to about 3.5 million people.

In February 2018, the self-declared republic agreed to allow the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) to set up a military base in the coastal
port of Berbera, as part of the UAE’s fight against Yemen’s Houthi
rebels.

The prosecution said that she had labelled the self-declared
republic of Somaliland a “region” and “insulted and defamed” its
government.

Somaliland’s Human Rights Centre has asked the government of
Somaliland to release Nacima Qorane and respect human rights.

Its director, Guleid Ahmed Jama, told the BBC that it was “very
concerned about the conviction and sentencing of Nacima
Qorane”.

“Freedom of expression is enshrined and protected by the
constitution of Somaliland. We urge the government of Somaliland to
respect its own constitution,” he said.

A number of other artists and journalists have been arrested in
Somaliland for the same offence.

BBC