Ottawa, Canada, April 18, 2009 – A citizen of Canada and Somalia, he was killed on the streets of Mogadishu, but Ali Iman Sharmarke’s Radio HornAfrik continues to give a voice to the people of war-torn Somalia. In celebration of Ali Iman Sharmarke’s legacy, the Sharmarke Peace Foundation will host a dialogue on the importance of a free press. The lecture will raise funds to secure the education of Somalia's next generation of journalists.  Liban Sharmarke, son of the late Ali Iman Sharmarke, will be joined by Allan Thompson, Carleton University journalism professor and head of the Rwanda Initiative, and Adrian Harewood, host of CBC Radio's All in a Day.

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time: 6h00 – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Villa Marconi 1026 Baseline Road, Ottawa, ON.
Tickets: $ 20.00
Students: $10.00
A light snack will be served

Ali Iman Sharmarke returned to Somalia in 1999 to help rebuild the media in his war-shattered country. Along with Mohamed Elmi and Ahmed Abdisalam Adan, he was one of three founding members of one of Africa's great media success stories, Radio HornAfrik. Radio HornAfrik continues to be one of the few independent media operating in Somalia and reports on issues of social interest, politics, war and peace.  He was killed on August 11, 2007, Killings of Sharmarke is still under investigation. Sharmarke is the recipient of the 2007 Tara Singh Hayer Award which recognizes Canadians for courage in journalism.

The event is open to the media. Liban Sharmarke, son of the late Ali Iman Sharmarke, is available for media interviews. For more information on the Sharmarke Peace Foundation, visit www.sharmarkefoundation.com

For information:
Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé
613-816-7620