A couple in Somalia chose the wrong place to commit the act of adultery. They did it in territory under the control of the al-Shabaab group, and worse, they left evidence of their act – the woman became pregnant. Now they are paying for it with their lives.
Just recently, 33-year old Abas Hussein Abdirahman was stoned to death in front of a crowd of 300 people. Sheikh Suldan Aala Mohamed, a spokesman for the Islamist al-Shabaab group said that the couple had confessed to committing the the act of adultery, which is punishable by being stoned to death under Sharia law.
How did the stoning go? One witness told the BBC: “He was screaming and blood was pouring from his head during the stoning. After seven minutes he stopped moving.”
But what happened to the woman caught in adultery? Well she was not stoned at this time. al-Shabaab said that she would be killed after the birth of her baby. The baby would probably be given to relatives to look after.
The al-Shabaab group controls extensive parts of Somalia while the UN-backed government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed controls only parts of the capital. Somalia does not have a functioning government for the past 18 years. The President condemned the al-Shabaab group with these words: “Their actions have nothing to do with Islam. They are forcing women to wear very heavy clothes, saying they want them to properly cover their bodies but we know they have economic interests behind – they sell these kinds of clothes and want to force people to buy them.”
In October last year, 13-year old Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow was gang raped by by 3 men. She reported the rape to the al-Shabaab group which controlled Kismayo where the rape took place. Instead of arresting the rapists, the al-Shabaab group accused Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow of committing adultery and sentenced her to death by stoning.
Amnesty International said of this case: “She had attempted to report this rape to the al-Shabab militia who control Kismayo, and it was this act that resulted in her being accused of adultery and detained. None of the three men she accused of rape were arrested.”
Responding, spokesman Sheik Hayakalah told Radio Shabelle: “The evidence came from her side and she officially confirmed her guilt, while she told us that she is happy with the punishment under Islamic law.”
But evidence did not support this. According to Amnesty International, eye witnesses reported that Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow struggled with her captors and had to be forcibly carried into the stadium where the stoning was to take place.
On October 27, 2008 Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow died by stoning in a stadium before 1,000 spectators. Amnesty International said: “This was not justice, nor was it an execution. This child suffered a horrendous death at the behest of the armed opposition groups who currently control Kismayo. This killing is yet another human rights abuse committed by the combatants to the conflict in Somalia, and again demonstrates the importance of international action to investigate and document such abuses, through an International Commission of Inquiry.This killing of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow demonstrates the cruelty and the inherent discrimination against women of this punishment.”
Think about it. Aceh province in Indonesia now has a similar Sharia law calling for death by stoning for adultery. How would they, and Indonesia, react if they have to confront their first case of adultery? And what kind of justice is al-Shabaab practising when a 13-year old rape victim is stoned to death while her rapists stay free?
Earlier posts
Somalia – Ringtones Of Muslim Cleric Reading Koran Or Hadith Verse
Somalia – Muslim Women Caned For Wearing Bras
Somalia – 3 Men Amputated Under Sharia Law
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