By AWEYS CADDE 07/26/2011
Al-Shabaab Arrests Women for Un-Islamic Dress
At least 35 women were detained today by the al-Shabaab insurgent group on the outskirts of Mogadishu for allegedly not wearing Islamic clothing (Hijab) as ordered by the militia, witnesses said.
15 of the 35 women were arrested in Elasha-Biyaha, about 15 kilometers south of Mogadishu, while the others were arrested in KM13, Alamada and Lafoole villages on the outskirts of the capital.
“Al-Shabaab detained women, including young girls, old women, pregnant women, and even teenagers,” Anwar Osman, one of the relatives of the detained women in Elasha-biyaha, told Somalia Report. “They arrested my young sister and when we visited her in custody they told us to pay 1000,000 Somali shilling (about $35) for her to be released.”
Somali Girl (File Photo)
Other relatives of women arrested complained about the fact that they would rather buy food than new clothes.
“We can’t get even pay for our daily food, so how are we supposed to buy expensive clothes? The clothes they ordered us to buy is 600,000 Somali shillings (about $20),” said Asha Abulaahi, 43, whose sister was arrested by the insurgents. Al-Shabaab refused to comment to Somalia Report.
