Aug 18th, 2020 – Guyo Wariyo was arrested on the allegation of breaching the code of Media Regulation by holding an interview with an icon and human rights activists, the late Haacaaluu Hundeessaa. The police alleged that Mr. Guyo committed this breach by airing an interview they claimed contained hate speech and incited communal violence.
Mr. Guyo was arranged to appear before the first instance federal court on several occasions, the latest being on 12/08/2020. On this day his lawyer, Mr. Kadir Bullo narrated what Guyo claimed. He stated that Guyo complained of state harassment by stating that the prosecutor in Jawar Mohammed’s case has harassed him to become a state witness against Jawar. Guyo was told to falsely claim that Jawar Mohammed was his commander at OMN. Guyo was to give such evidence behind the curtains. The state promised that once he complied with the request, he would be set free.
Guyo told his lawyer that he declined such offers because such an act is against his morality and ethics. Guyo also stated that his family members and traditional elders are being lobbed to confuse him to agree to the State demand. Guyo clearly stated that he has no relationship with Jawar Mohamed because he doesn’t take any order from him. He claimed to have stated that his immediate supervisor is Mr. Dajane Guutama followed by Mr. Girma Guutama. He claimed that he has committed no crime, but his rights are being violated because the state wants to force him to be a witness in its case against his fellow detainers.
The journalist also complained of serious sickness and the suffering his family is going through because of state harassment. Guyo’s case will be mentioned again on 14/08/2020 after police asked for more time. Whether he will be released on bail will also be heard on the same day.
On Jawar’s Requests and Complaints of Mistreatment of Detainers
The court also deliberated on Jawar Mohamed’s request to change the judge that’s proceeding over his case. The court has declined Jawar’s request for this change.
The court at Sululta has also released Chaltu Takele for the second time, after police refused to obey the previous order.
Translated from Afaan Oromoo to English by Kana Golicha Duba
Original article from BBC Afaan Oromo: https://www.bbc.com/afaanoromoo/oduu-53762794?at_custom2=facebook_page&at_custom3=BBC+News+Afaan+Oromoo&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom4=7FCE0F26-DD3F-11EA-BEA5-42B096E8478F&at_medium=custom7&at_campaign=64
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Our immediate quest is to show and pursue the international community that federalism is not up for debate and once again continue to speak up & build a platform for Oromos are being prosecuted. Donate to OLLAA as we:
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