(CNN) -- A Somali appeals court has cleared a woman who accused security forces of raping her but upheld the conviction of a journalist who interviewed her. The judge said that journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim had disrespected the country's law, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a Sunday statement, noting that it was unclear exactly what law he broke. His one-year sentence was cut to six months. "The court acquitted a woman who should never have been charged while upholding an unjust conviction of a journalist," said Daniel Bekele, the group's Africa director. "After this case, who in their right mind would suggest to a victim of government abuse that they report the crime? Or tell their story to a journalist?"
@highlight
Both the woman and the journalist were sentenced to a year in prison last month
@highlight
A lower court said the woman made false rape accusations and insulted the government
@highlight
Human Rights Watch calls for the journalist to be let go
"Quashing the case and unconditionally releasing @placeholder will show that this government is ready to focus on protecting freedom of expression and encouraging victims of sexual violence to come forward."