MOGADISHU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme court in Somalia on Sunday acquitted a journalist jailed after interviewing a woman who alleges she was raped by government security forces.
The Somalia Supreme Court Judge Aydeed Abdulahi Ilkahanaf, said the Journalist, Abdiaziz Abdinur, was free and that the charges against him were dropped for lack of evidence.
Abdinur along with his interviewee who alleges she was raped by security forces were given one year jail sentence each in February but the woman was released by an appeals court early in March and upheld the journalist's conviction with reduced jail term of six months.
"I am happy that I got my freedom back and I thank all those who took part in the effort to bring a just end to this case particularly my lawyers and colleagues," Abdinur told reporters following his release by the court.
The case drew international and local outcry and calls for the release of both the journalist and the alleged rape victim.
Somali government officials have insisted they would not interfere with country's court decision and stressed the independence of the local judiciary.
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