Mogadishu – Somalia’s National Independent Human Rights Commission has expressed concern over the continued detention of Sadio Moallim Ali, who has been held at Mogadishu Central Prison for more than a month without trial.
In a statement issued May 13, the commission said it visited the prison on April 29 to assess Ali’s detention conditions and review her legal and humanitarian situation.
The commission said its delegation met with officials from the Correctional Service, prison administrators, Ali and her lawyer during the visit.
According to a May 6 statement from the National Prosecutor’s Office, Ali is being held on accusations of defamation and incitement to social unrest. But the rights commission said she has not been brought before a court or scheduled for a hearing, raising serious concerns about her right to a fair trial.
Ali told the commission she had faced difficult prison conditions, including intimidation, inadequate food, overcrowding, poor sanitation and restrictions on family visits. The commission said it could not independently verify the claims but called for a full investigation.
Dr. Maryam Qaasim, chair of the National Independent Human Rights Commission, said detention does not strip a person of basic rights.
“Every person in detention still has the right to dignity, to be treated humanely, to receive medical care and full legal protection,” she said.
The commission urged government institutions to speed up the judicial process and ensure the rights of detainees are fully protected, especially those who have not yet been brought to trial.
Ali’s arrest has drawn criticism from opposition figures and rights groups, who say authorities are using legal and security measures to suppress peaceful expression. Opposition leaders have linked the case to broader complaints by young bajaj drivers in Mogadishu, who have protested issues including alleged corruption, unemployment, high taxes and rising fuel prices.
Amnesty International issued an urgent appeal weeks ago calling for Ali’s unconditional release. The rights group said Ali had not been granted access to legal representation and that her family had not been informed of formal charges.
Rights groups say Ali’s arrest is linked to her online activism and participation in peaceful protests criticizing the federal government. In one video circulated online, Ali reportedly said Somalia’s leadership would bear responsibility for any harm against her.
Amnesty described her detention as arbitrary and said she was being targeted solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression. It urged Somali authorities to release her immediately or ensure that her detention complies with international human rights standards, including access to lawyers, family visits and adequate health care.