Somalia: Appeals court clears woman convicted in rape case that drew widespread condemnation

Published January 13, 2015

A Somali appeals court has dropped charges against a woman who alleged she was raped by government security forces and had been convicted of defaming the government.

Mogadishu appeals court Judge Mohamed Hassan Ali said Sunday there wasn't enough evidence to substantiate the prosecutor's charge.

A journalist who interviewed the rape victim and was tried alongside her had his sentence reduced from one year to six months. The judge said the interview was not conducted according to journalism ethics or Somali law.

The February verdict against the two provoked international outcry by human rights groups.

Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said Sunday that the appeals court missed a chance "to right a terrible wrong" by not freeing the journalist.

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