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Arrested Al Jazeera journalist, Hamza Mohamed, has been released after 48 hours of detention by Somali security services in the capital Mogadishu.
The television channel confirmed the release of the British journalist who was arrested on Tuesday while on a one-week work trip in Somalia.
Hamza Mohamed was arrested together with his cameraman, driver and fixer. Somali authorities confirmed to Al Jazeera that all of them have been released.
The Somali authorities were condemned for Hamza’s arrest by the international community and media bodies.
We're again dismayed by the Oct 18 arrest of @Hamza_Africa, @AJEnglish journalist & cameramen allegedly by #Somalia's Intel agency 1/2
— U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) October 19, 2016
We urge the Federal Government of #Somalia to promote & protect the universally recognized rights of freedom of expression & association 2/2
— U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) October 19, 2016
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement on Wednesday that Hamza and his team were suspected of travelling to territories controlled by Islamist group Al Shabaab to conduct interviews with its leaders.
“Journalists are constantly caught in the crossfire … when they are not victims of deadly attacks from the militia, they are suspected of collaborating with Al Shabaab and arrested by the authorities,” RSF explained.
#Somalia: Al-Jazeera reporter, two cameramen held after trip outside Mogadishu https://t.co/u8b36dVgVH pic.twitter.com/CHfrMhcpCn
— RSF (@RSF_inter) October 19, 2016
Somalia according to a recent report by the United Nations is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists with more than 30 killed since 2012.
