Mohamed Sidik Dhamme
Mohamed Sidik Dhamme
The National Human Rights Commission visited, for a second time, Mohamed Sidik Dhamme a Youth Wing Leader of opposition party of Waddani on 28th may 2019, who is in custody in Hargeisa Central Prison to observe his condition. Mr. Dhamme was arrested on 1stMay 2019 from his house at the lunch time (1:30PM) without a court warrant as he assured to the commission during interview with him. Dhamme was arrested for a Facebook post criticizing the state of emergency imposed by the president of Somaliland on three districts of Sanaag region.
“At 1:30 pm a police armed with guns came to my house; children and family members in the house were shocked. 4 soldiers entered my room and ordered me to follow them. I asked whether they had a warrant to arrest me. They said “No,” but followed them.” He continued with his statement “More than 10 soldiers were around the house and were looking out and waiting for those inside the house who were assigned to arrest me”.
Furthermore, Mr Dhamme stated to the Commission that the police officers asked him several unreasonable questions.
“On the way to the police station, they asked me several irrelevant questions such as; what do you do? Do you know that your party is wants to destroy this nation? Why do you say that the election was not free and fair? And many other questions.” Dhamme said.
In addition, the interview the commission had with Mr Dhame stated that, while in the police station, he was kept in a dark room without hygiene filled with dirt sticks and urines for three consecutive days…
“I was put in a dirt dark room and filled with urine and sticks, no water and no bed, and I asked them to bring me water and talk to my family to bring me some clothes and bedsheets. They refused all requests I submitted to them for those three days “. He added, “During my stay at the central police station, the police had been abusive and harassed me trying to kill me psychologically”.Finally, Mohamed Sidik Dhamme confirmed that on 4 / May / 2019, he was brought to the court and he was remanded by Hargeisa Regional Court for seven days in prison pending a police investigation and has not been brought to the court again. Mr Dhamme Confirmed to the commission that he had 3 lawyers, his health condition is good and he has access to medical services, if he needed, a place of worship and physical exercise.
“The custodial corps treat us with respect;, we have enough water, regular exercise, a good place to meet, with my lawyers any time I need them and whenever they need me, family visits and anyone who needs me to visit me. During my stay here I learnt a lot of Islamic governments history such as ummawiyeen and abbaseyeen governments and interpretations of the Holy Quran. Prison officers treat inmates well, they are trained and understand the rights of prisoners that they are responsible for.”. Dhamme said.
Therefore, Somaliland National Human Rights Commission call on the police, prosecutors and others involved in the Dhamme’s case to speed up the case investigation and avoid any unnecessary delays or prolong his stay in prison without conviction otherwise it would be a violation against his rights- justice delayed is justice denied.
Mohamed Sidik Dhamme
The National Human Rights Commission visited, for a second time, Mohamed Sidik Dhamme a Youth Wing Leader of opposition party of Waddani on 28th may 2019, who is in custody in Hargeisa Central Prison to observe his condition. Mr. Dhamme was arrested on 1stMay 2019 from his house at the lunch time (1:30PM) without a court warrant as he assured to the commission during interview with him. Dhamme was arrested for a Facebook post criticizing the state of emergency imposed by the president of Somaliland on three districts of Sanaag region.
“At 1:30 pm a police armed with guns came to my house; children and family members in the house were shocked. 4 soldiers entered my room and ordered me to follow them. I asked whether they had a warrant to arrest me. They said “No,” but followed them.” He continued with his statement “More than 10 soldiers were around the house and were looking out and waiting for those inside the house who were assigned to arrest me”.
Furthermore, Mr Dhamme stated to the Commission that the police officers asked him several unreasonable questions.
“On the way to the police station, they asked me several irrelevant questions such as; what do you do? Do you know that your party is wants to destroy this nation? Why do you say that the election was not free and fair? And many other questions.” Dhamme said.
In addition, the interview the commission had with Mr Dhame stated that, while in the police station, he was kept in a dark room without hygiene filled with dirt sticks and urines for three consecutive days…
“I was put in a dirt dark room and filled with urine and sticks, no water and no bed, and I asked them to bring me water and talk to my family to bring me some clothes and bedsheets. They refused all requests I submitted to them for those three days “. He added, “During my stay at the central police station, the police had been abusive and harassed me trying to kill me psychologically”.Finally, Mohamed Sidik Dhamme confirmed that on 4 / May / 2019, he was brought to the court and he was remanded by Hargeisa Regional Court for seven days in prison pending a police investigation and has not been brought to the court again. Mr Dhamme Confirmed to the commission that he had 3 lawyers, his health condition is good and he has access to medical services, if he needed, a place of worship and physical exercise.
“The custodial corps treat us with respect;, we have enough water, regular exercise, a good place to meet, with my lawyers any time I need them and whenever they need me, family visits and anyone who needs me to visit me. During my stay here I learnt a lot of Islamic governments history such as ummawiyeen and abbaseyeen governments and interpretations of the Holy Quran. Prison officers treat inmates well, they are trained and understand the rights of prisoners that they are responsible for.”. Dhamme said.
Therefore, Somaliland National Human Rights Commission call on the police, prosecutors and others involved in the Dhamme’s case to speed up the case investigation and avoid any unnecessary delays or prolong his stay in prison without conviction otherwise it would be a violation against his rights- justice delayed is justice denied.
