Sadia, 27, is a Somali social rights activist and tuk-tuk driver who was unlawfully arrested on 12 April 2026. On 25 June 2026, the Banadir Regional Court sentenced her to three years in prison on charges of “disrespecting government institutions” in connection with her social media activism and peaceful expression.

Sadia’s defence lawyers maintained that she had committed no offence and was exercising her constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression. The Geeska Freedom Centre (GFC), together with Sadia’s lawyers, reviewed the proceedings and sentencing before the lower court and identified a number of serious procedural irregularities and fair-trial concerns. Based on these concerns, her lawyers filed an appeal, arguing that Sadia had committed no criminal offence and that the proceedings leading to her conviction were fundamentally flawed.

On 1 August 2026, the Appeals Court accepted the defence submission and agreed to hear the case afresh.

During the Appeals Court hearing on Wednesday, alongside her lawyers, Sadia was given an opportunity to speak directly to the judge and present her account of what happened following her arrest, including the alleged abuses she suffered while in detention.

Sadia told the court that she was sexually assaulted by two police officers during her detention and that they threatened her with death. She also said that she went without food for several days following her arrest and described the poor conditions and deterioration of her health while in custody.

Sadia further told the judge about her 12-month-old daughter, who is still breastfeeding. She said she was prevented from seeing her child during her detention, despite her daughter’s need for breastfeeding and maternal care.

These concerns are particularly serious given Somalia’s constitutional protections against unlawful detention, violence and inhumane treatment, as well as the state’s obligations to protect the welfare of mothers and children. Somalia’s Constitution also guarantees arrested and detained persons the right to a fair trial and protection from physical and psychological harm.

GFC is concerned that these allegations and the circumstances surrounding Sadia’s detention were not adequately addressed during the lower court proceedings, which GFC believes were affected by serious procedural and judicial concerns.

The Banadir Regional Appeals Court hearing therefore marked an important moment. GFC calls on the Appeals Court to conduct a genuinely independent, impartial and transparent review of Sadia’s conviction and to give full consideration to the defence’s concerns regarding procedural irregularities, the evidence presented against her, and her fundamental rights.

“The Banadir Appeals Court must quash Sadia Moalin Ali’s unlawful sentence and restore her freedom. Sadia should never have been imprisoned for exercising her right to freedom of expression. We urge the court to correct the serious irregularities in the lower court proceedings, uphold her fundamental rights, and order her immediate release,” said the Director of Geeska Freedom Centre, Abdalle Mumin. “No person should be imprisoned for peacefully expressing their views, and no detainee should be subjected to abuse whatsoever.”

GFC reiterates its call for the Somali authorities to protect freedom of expression, ensure judicial independence, uphold fair-trial guarantees, and end the misuse of criminal laws against activists, journalists and peaceful critics.

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In a new report released on Tuesday, GFC said the arrests were carried out by the Somali Police Force and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

According to the organization, those detained appear to have been targeted solely for expressing opinions critical of the authorities or publishing content considered unfavorable to the Federal Government.

GFC said the arrests come amid heightened political tensions following the controversial extension of the mandates of the president whose mandate has ended Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Federal Parliament, whose constitutional terms expired in May 2026 and April 2026, respectively.

Opposition groups and civil society organizations have argued that the extensions have deepened political divisions and raised concerns over democratic governance.

Among the cases highlighted in the report is the arrest of 10 young social media influencers on June 28, after police accused them of promoting “indecent behavior” and content allegedly supporting homosexuality.

During a press conference at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Mogadishu, police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden Hassan said security agencies were pursuing additional suspects.

GFC said it had verified the identities of seven of those arrested, including one minor: Abdiqani Mohamed Dalmar (32), Abdulle Mohamed Abdi (30), Khusey Said Dahir (19), Ahmed Abdullahi Mumin (16), Abdiladiif Muuse Abdi (43), Abas Rufaaci Osman (19), and Farhan Ahmed Abuukar (19).

According to police sources cited by the organization, three of the original detainees have since been released without charge, while the remaining seven continue to be held. Family members told GFC the detainees are content creators on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, where they primarily produced entertainment content.

The report also raises concerns over the detention of Mascuud Warsame, founder of the Mogadishu-based online news outlet Xogbile, who was allegedly taken by NISA officers on the night of June 30 shortly after leaving his office. GFC said NISA has neither acknowledged his detention nor disclosed the legal basis for his arrest.

According to the organization, Warsame remains in custody without charge and has not been brought before a court. Xogbile has frequently published reports critical of the recently installed South West State administration in Baidoa, which is backed by the Federal Government.

Another case highlighted is that of Mohamed Ali Mohamud, widely known as Qadaaye, a reporter for Iftiimiye TV, who was arrested on June 26 after reporting on a police officer who claimed senior officials had unlawfully suspended his salary.

GFC said Mohamud was detained for three days without charge before being released, while the police officer interviewed in the report was also reportedly arrested.

The organization further criticized the arrest of journalist Abdukadir Abukar Ali, known as Diirshe, who was detained on June 25 while covering proceedings at the Banadir Regional Court during the trial of women’s rights activist Sadia Moalin Ali.

Shortly before his arrest, Diirshe had published a video questioning the fairness of Sadia’s trial.

Banadir Regional Police Commander Mahdi Omar Mumin, known as Moalin Mahdi, later confirmed the arrest on Facebook, accusing the journalist of insulting the country’s judicial institutions.

According to GFC, Diirshe was held incommunicado for three days before being brought before a court and released on bail on June 28. However, the charges against him remain pending. The organization argued that such prosecutions are increasingly being used to intimidate journalists and discourage critical reporting.

GFC also expressed concern over the continued imprisonment of Sadia Moalin Ali, who was arrested on April 12, 2026, after participating in a peaceful protest in Mogadishu.

She was sentenced to three years in prison on June 25, a decision the organization says violates Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and its international human rights obligations protecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“The Geeska Freedom Centre calls on the Federal Government of Somalia to end the arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance and intimidation of journalists, media workers and social media users, and immediately and unconditionally release all individuals detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said GFC Director Abdalle Ahmed Mumin.

The organization said it will continue monitoring the cases and urged Somalia’s international partners to publicly press the Federal Government to end what it described as an assault on civic space and to uphold the country’s constitutional and international human rights commitments.

The Federal Government, Somali Police Force, and NISA had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in GFC’s report at the time of publication.

The authorities have previously maintained that security operations and arrests are carried out in accordance with Somali law and are intended to protect public order and national security.

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