The edicts which were presented by information officer Abdullahi Gardhuub are as follows:

1. Music should not be aired.

2. All music that has been used to advertise a commercial product or for an advertising program should be replaced by "Islamic songs" or "Anaashid".

3. The information officer cannot be telephoned by the media or used as a source, even if 1,000 people are killed in the town, unless the officer himself calls the radio station or journalist and orders them to report as he wishes.

4. Al-Shabaab and its leadership have sworn in the name of Allah, that if any journalist or media house airs information against the Islamic administration, they shall be killed.

(...)

Similar rules were recently imposed on Radio Markabley in Bardhere town in the same region. On 22 August, the Al-Shabaab leadership convened a meeting with Radio Markabley management and presented the edicts that the radio station must eliminate all secular songs from its broadcasts, and that the station must not use any musical programmes, among a long list of other restrictions.

Report about freedom violations in Somalia

The Annual Report of Press Freedom Violations in Somalia by the National Union of Somali Journalists, published on 28 December 2008, reveals virulent attacks on journalists including unspeakable cases of killings, arrests, injuries, ill-treatments, abduction and death threats as well as serious, sophisticated and systematic harassment and intimidation in main cities, particularly Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa, Bossasso, Galkayo and Hargeisa.

Two journalists were murdered with complete impunity in Kismayo. More than 30 journalists received death threats. Since Islamic insurgents took over several towns in south-central regions of the country, at least six journalists have fled to Kenya from Kismayo in fear for their lives.

Apart from death threats, media in Gedo and the lower Jubba regions were banned from broadcasting music or songs, saying it was prohibited by the "Islamic religion".