An eye for an eye, as Somali boy executes father's killer

[BlackRain]

An eye for an eye, as Somali boy executes father's killer

May 03, 2006

A Somali teenager publicly hacked his father's killer to death in a punishment sanctioned under Islamic law today.

Hundreds of people gathered in Mogadishu to watch the court-ordered execution. Witnesses said that Mohamed Moalim, 16, approached the condemned man Omar Hussein, who was hooded and tied to a pole, and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest, neck and head.

http://shabellenews.com/images_files/qisaas3.jpg
Hooded and bound, Omar Hussein awaits his execution

Hussein had been found guilty of murdering the boy's father, a teacher, in a similar manner two months ago. The execution was the first to be held in the Somalian capital for a decade and was hailed by local Islamic spiritual leaders as a sign that order was being restored.

The execution was carried out as the British Home Office faced mounting pressure over its decision to spare Mustaf Jama, a Somalian convicted of robbery, from deportation three months before his alleged involvement in the shooting of Sharon Beshenivsky, 38, in November last year.

After carrying out the killing, Mohamed Moalim calmly said: "My father’s killer is now gone. I am happy now because I killed the man who killed my father."

Sheikh Ibrahim Mohamed Nur, an imam in the Bermuda district of the capital, said: "Islam is the only solace to the overcome the difficulties we are facing. The justice of Allah has been implemented and there is no better justice than what Allah reccommended.

"The public is aware from today on that killers won’t go unpunished as they did in the past," he said.

Graphic Photos here: http://shabellenews.com/2006/may/n6986.htm

A young bystander who gave his name only as Mohamoud said: "You cannot stop violence by another sort of violence."

Graphic photographs of the spectacle were posted on Somali internet sites. It came amid rising fears of an escalation in the tensions between militia loyal to the courts and an alliance of warlords devoted to curbing their influence.

Western intelligence agencies are growing increasingly concerned about the creeping influence of al-Qaeda on lawless Somalia, where Islamic extremists are believed to be harbouring senior figures from the terrorist network.

John Reid, the Defence Secretary, said today that Jama, still wanted over the Beshenivsky murder, had not been deported to Somalia because an immigration panel had considered it it was simply too dangerous.

"When he came out he was considered for deportation but in Somalia the government had fallen apart, it was being controlled by warlords and there was a threat that if he took a plane into the capital, Mogadishu, not only would he have been blown out of the air but the pilot of the plane would have been," Mr Reid said.

"So it was decided on balance they should not deport him in this case."

Mogadishu’s Islamic courts came into existence law in 1994, three years after the mainly Muslim country of 10 million was plunged into anarchy when Mohamed Siad Barre's 22-year presidency was brought to an end after two years of civil war.

In 1995, they ordered the stoning to death of several people convicted of adultery and the amputation of limbs for thieves but Tuesday’s killing was believed to be the first public execution in a decade.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2163323,00.html

[liberation]

Its good to see Somalia's sophisticated and highly developed legal system meting out justice in such a judicious fashion.

Somalia is a shining paragon of sharia law integrity. Roll on more medieval barbarism.

[MrScruff]

You do realise that photo is of him being stabbed in the head...

[LibertyUnites]

you sure? it does look like it, but he might just be checkign his hood/restraints or something...

[guard2.bn]

he's stabbing him in the neck

[elephantkiller]

el shanko in the head.

[CSAR]

Death penalty in it's purest form...

[Pandy]

Death penalty in it's purest form...

Aye, and the correct way.

[remo williams]

Death penalty in it's purest form...
And it's cheaper than the electric chair and less time consuming than lethal injection. I wonder how many would cosign on importing this form of capital punishment stateside.p-)

[Belrick]

You cannot carry out such acts without being tainted by it. All those who witnessed this murder will carry its horror with them always. It will also raise tolerance for violent acts.

All round, a black day for Somalia.

[remo williams]

You cannot carry out such acts without being tainted by it. All those who witnessed this murder will carry its horror with them always. It will also raise tolerance for violent acts.

All round, a black day for Somalia.
Carry the horror? More like "it took him five tries to stab that fcuker,i could've take his head off in two." There were probably judges w/score cards on the side lines giving their marks for the capital punishment event. I don't think much more violence, especially that brought about by a judges decision will marr many of those people much more than they've been. What's disturbing is that it was sanctioned under Islamic sharia law. Law which usually has the baggage of jihad against the "infidels" in it's trunk. While I'm sure there are those who feel this will solve nothing, but perpetuate itself. But having something in islam which allows for punishment and instillment of order will be accepeted by the many, makes it pretty tempting to resist to those who simply want law and order.

[Whoami88]

You cannot carry out such acts without being tainted by it. All those who witnessed this murder will carry its horror with them always. It will also raise tolerance for violent acts.

All round, a black day for Somalia.
Buddy, I'm pretty ****en sure that Somalians are used to seeing death and killing by now, this is just another day to them. You be surprised to what a human being can become "used" too...

[Creeper]

You cannot carry out such acts without being tainted by it. All those who witnessed this murder will carry its horror with them always. It will also raise tolerance for violent acts.

All round, a black day for Somalia.

And you my friend state your opinion while living in a first class society. Then right you are.
How many months have you spent in in 3rd class society while strict Islamic teachings rules around you?
What qualifications do you have to judge and point the finger at others?

I quote from a Frog;"Please take time out of your day and go choke yourself."

[moughoun]

You cannot carry out such acts without being tainted by it. All those who witnessed this murder will carry its horror with them always. It will also raise tolerance for violent acts.

All round, a black day for Somalia.
you do realise. this is Somalia, where they have been doing each other like dog's for the last 20+ year's, seeing a guy getting stabbed is not new or even shocking to them any more.......but hell, at least they have some sort of justice system there now, the whole place has been in anarchy for 2 decades

[Bert]

Not the whole place, the north is under control by an unrecognized democratic authority known as 'Somaliland'.

[shire19]

Personally I dont see anything wrong with this, the more murders/rapists they get rid off the better.

And Somalia hasn't been in anarachy for '20+' years, more like 15 years.
Puntland is an independent state gov inside Somalia while Somaliland doesnt want to seperate itself from Somalia but yet formed its own government.

[Roaming East]

you do realise. this is Somalia, where they have been doing each other like dog's for the last 20+ year's, seeing a guy getting stabbed is not new or even shocking to them any more.......but hell, at least they have some sort of justice system there now, the whole place has been in anarchy for 2 decades
yeah, this is probably pretty tame by Somali standards. Between ducking gunfights to take a piss and dodging death gangs from rival factions. a good ole execution is like dinner and a movie.

[liberation]

Jesus this board is a flophouse for wingnut psychopaths.

This man was executed under Sharia law, particulary perturping considering that Somalia was until recently renowned for its moderate approach to Islam. Somali's are desperate for law and order and to enforce that desire they are turning towards the abomination that is fundamentalist Islam, Sharia fanatics taking advantage of fearful Somalis as did the Taleban in Afghanistan.

Little wonder that the Ethiopians are deliberately trying to keep Somalia as anarchic as possible. An orderly Somalia is a stronghold for Al-qaeda adherents in the horn of Africa and thus a destabilising influence on the entire region.

What you people rather have, Afgahistan in a state of civil war or run by Taleban, plotting with Al-qaeda to carry out more attacks on the west like the September 11?

Let Somalia remain disorderly until the the fundamendalist muslim threat recedes.

[Bert]

The non-islamic warlords attempt to fight off the muslim expansionists in Somalia, that's why there's still disorder. It's definitely better than another 'Islamic Republic of..'.

[TriggerHappy]

Well I am pro the Death Penalty and I believe in Moses law <<an eye for an eye>>.

[XxDualityxX]

People see lethal injection as a waste of money when you have bullets. I would not jump to say these people are unsophisticated or savages I hope you know that the majority of the world is poor and underdeveloped. These methods may seem savage to us but to them its normal, is it wrong yes probably but is killing a boys father absolutly.

[CPLHUNTER]

Well I am pro the Death Penalty and I believe in Moses law <<an eye for an eye>>.

Well, such public executions probably cuts down (no pun intended) on such crimes.

[XxDualityxX]

Well I am pro the Death Penalty and I believe in Moses law <<an eye for an eye>>.

Technically this isnt an eye for an eye though.

[TriggerHappy]

Well, such public executions probably cuts down (no pun intended) on such crimes.

Another reason is that they can't really maintain prisons and feed them
If that was the norm there would be thousands of Somalis imprisoned.
But Somalia is a devastatesd by civil war country so.... no money.
It is easier for Somalis to execute criminals and deal once and for all with the problem.

Then we have the Shariah law ...... which also suggests souch methods of punishment so everyone in Somalia is happy.


Technically this isnt an eye for an eye though.
Explain.

[Belrick]

I can't help but laugh that so many took offense with my statements while in there own way reinforcing my statements and ignoring the basic premise. Voilence scars us all regardless of the cause.

Wether it be murder, self defense or honour killing or public executions.

[Hollis]

Personally I dont see anything wrong with this, the more murders/rapists they get rid off the better.

And Somalia hasn't been in anarachy for '20+' years, more like 15 years.
Puntland is an independent state gov inside Somalia while Somaliland doesnt want to seperate itself from Somalia but yet formed its own government.

My feelings is when a murder gets wacked, than it is good thing. But there is a reason why vendetta killing and various forms of public executions is NOT/NO longer carried out in "more civilized" countries........ THERE ARE REALLY GOOD REASONS... not to have this still of execution. Maybe when Somalia has flush toilets, electricity etc......... they might move out of the stone age,,,,,, opps he was stoned, just hacked..

[remo williams]

Jesus this board is a flophouse for wingnut psychopaths.

This man was executed under Sharia law, particulary perturping considering that Somalia was until recently renowned for its moderate approach to Islam.
Maybe you should read/re-read my post. Like I said this is unsettling because it's an open door to those who would use the chaos to their advantage. Thus transforming a chaotic country into a viable terrorist safe zone. Same in Darfur.. people will seek reief fom the hell they live each day. You can't blame them if those who offer it are the ones who will take advantage of them later in order to harm us.

[liberation]

The rule of law and judicial integrity are the only way to maintain a viable civil society.

If the Somalis want to inflict the death penalty on violent criminals than let them do so in an internationally respected court of law.

If Somalia can't be bothered developing a functioning criminal legal system based on the adverserial approach that prevails in nations with at least a modicum of decency then it can descend further into the charnel pit it has dug it's self.

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

This man was executed under Sharia law, particulary perturping considering that Somalia was until recently renowned for its moderate approach to Islam.

Really? When I was there twelve years ago they were carrying out executions and other actions under the guise of Sharia law. Where exactly do you get your information from?


Somali's are desperate for law and order and to enforce that desire they are turning towards the abomination that is fundamentalist Islam, Sharia fanatics taking advantage of fearful Somalis as did the Taleban in Afghanistan.

Somali's aren't 'desperate' for law and order. Somali's in general are desperate to take advantage of every opportunity they can get to further their own agenda or that of their family in particular or clan.
As for the "fearful Somalis being taken advantage of" comment, its obvious you haven't worked with too many Somali's, because if you had you wouldn't have made a comment like that.


Little wonder that the Ethiopians are deliberately trying to keep Somalia as anarchic as possible. An orderly Somalia is a stronghold for Al-qaeda adherents in the horn of Africa and thus a destabilising influence on the entire region.

On the contrary the reason tha US has a task force in Djibouti is primarily due to the threat of AQ cells in Somalia. An orderly Somalia will not become a base for AQ at least not more so than it already has been in the recent past.


What you people rather have, Afgahistan in a state of civil war or run by Taleban, plotting with Al-qaeda to carry out more attacks on the west like the September 11?

Er, What? Afghanistan isn't in a state of civil war.


Let Somalia remain disorderly until the the fundamendalist muslim threat recedes.

No, come up with a clear plan to deal with the issues Somalia faces, in particular the inter-clan fighting. Discontent is the breeding ground for terrorism/insurgency's.

It's pretty obvious that you have no direct experience with Somalia or Somali's. I would suggest you curtail your comments until you learn something factual.

[Dervish]

Interesting thread. IMO Western style democracy cannot work in Islamic society that has tribes. The west/america fails to see this because there is no tribes in there societies.

What works temporarly to unite a Islamic multi tribal country is a cruel dictator (saddam) common cause (Afghani jihad against the soviets) or Islam (equal coexisitance and control under Sharia law). The west has a challenge to find an alternative to the third and honestly I cannot think it can be found.

[Creeper]

I can't help but laugh that so many took offense with my statements while in there own way reinforcing my statements and ignoring the basic premise. Voilence scars us all regardless of the cause.

Wether it be murder, self defense or honour killing or public executions.

You, indeed are the only one laughing. However, I,personally, am neither scarred nor joyous over the said event.
You failed to mention a championship paintball game ! LOL

The Somlia culture is THEIRS. YES, IT is in a upheavel, yet they control it. Be it that it may, Leave well enough alone.
G'day !

[liberation]

Really? When I was there twelve years ago they were carrying out executions and other actions under the guise of Sharia law. Where exactly do you get your information from?



Somali's aren't 'desperate' for law and order. Somali's in general are desperate to take advantage of every opportunity they can get to further their own agenda or that of their family in particular or clan.
As for the "fearful Somalis being taken advantage of" comment, its obvious you haven't worked with too many Somali's, because if you had you wouldn't have made a comment like that.



On the contrary the reason tha US has a task force in Djibouti is primarily due to the threat of AQ cells in Somalia. An orderly Somalia will not become a base for AQ at least not more so than it already has been in the recent past.



Er, What? Afghanistan isn't in a state of civil war.



No, come up with a clear plan to deal with the issues Somalia faces, in particular the inter-clan fighting. Discontent is the breeding ground for terrorism/insurgency's.

It's pretty obvious that you have no direct experience with Somalia or Somali's. I would suggest you curtail your comments until you learn something factual.

There is no doubt the chief trait of Somali society is acute segmentation based on patrilineally traced blood affinities. You are wrong however to assume that Somalis lack a sense of political community resulting from clan differentation. The divisive nature of Somali kinship is offset by qanoon, (Islamic law) which supercedes male lineage and marriage ties to impose administration of criminal justice and the stipulation of reciprocal duties and rights. The Somalis regard the qanoon as a binding moral commonwealth, capable of restraining any tendency to engage in fractious intercine warfare.

Viewing Somalis as doggedly and destructively furthering their own clanistic ambitions through constant warfare is crude and narrow minded.

The blame for the degeneration of the clan social mechanisim lies mainly with the dictorial SRC, which dissolved the progressive constitution of the first republic with "scientific socialism", an ideology that attempted to destabilise traditional Somali social norms with neo-marxisim and suppression of political dissent. The degradation of the clan system, excerbated by famine and war with Ethiopia resulted in administrative collaspe and the rise of a pernicious patriachal authority system which filled the void left by the defunct SRC.

It was communisim, not clan warfare that destroyed Somalia as a functioning nation.

As for Afghanistan, only Kabul is controlled by coalition forces; the provinces are over run by Taleban radicals and warring tribesman who engage in interminable conflict.

That is a civil war to me.

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

How much time did you spend in Somalia and Afghanistan?

[shire19]

My feelings is when a murder gets wacked, than it is good thing. But there is a reason why vendetta killing and various forms of public executions is NOT/NO longer carried out in "more civilized" countries........ THERE ARE REALLY GOOD REASONS... not to have this still of execution. Maybe when Somalia has flush toilets, electricity etc......... they might move out of the stone age,,,,,, opps he was stoned, just hacked..

Somalia HAS flush toilets, they HAVE electricity.. Mogadishu was a great city to live in prior to the civil war. It had churches, hospitals, univerisities etc. Somalia has already had a stone age.

[James]

As for Afghanistan, only Kabul is controlled by coalition forces; the provinces are over run by Taleban radicals and warring tribesman who engage in interminable conflict.

That is a civil war to me.

I'm in Afghanistan right now, and not in Kabul. I can assure you that your statement is incorrect.

[liberation]

Oh, I thought the ministry of defence in Britain had warned its newly deployed soldiers in Afghanistan to expect some torrid frontline encounters with Taleban insurgents sometime rather soon.

I'm not on the ground in Afghanistan and I have to rely on the media, but from what I have read from a diverse array of "reputable" publications the situation on the ground in that nation is going down hill rather rapidly.

But then again I'm not on the ground so I don't have a right to speak out, but I don't think Afghani's are suddenly becoming peaceniks due to allied forces patrolling the streets of Kabul.

[Hollis]

Somalia HAS flush toilets, they HAVE electricity.. Mogadishu was a great city to live in prior to the civil war. It had churches, hospitals, univerisities etc. Somalia has already had a stone age.

Shire, it was sarcasim, Sorry if it did not fly.........

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

There is no doubt the chief trait of Somali society is acute segmentation based on patrilineally traced blood affinities. You are wrong however to assume that Somalis lack a sense of political community resulting from clan differentation. The divisive nature of Somali kinship is offset by qanoon, (Islamic law) which supercedes male lineage and marriage ties to impose administration of criminal justice and the stipulation of reciprocal duties and rights. The Somalis regard the qanoon as a binding moral commonwealth, capable of restraining any tendency to engage in fractious intercine warfare.

Fascinating that you attempt to portray a superior intellect by using really big words, but fail dismally by misspelling so many of them. It does make it difficult to understand your points if your communication skills are ineffective.

let's just take a moment to explain segmentation for the viewers shall we?

The meaning of segmentation is captured in an Arab beduin saying which I learnt during my first week in country: My full brother and I against my half-brother, my brother and I against my father, my father's household against my uncle's household, our two households (my uncle's and mine) against the rest of the immediate kin, the immediate kin against nonimmediate members of my clan, my clan against other clans, and, finally, my nation and I against the world. In a system of lineage segmentation, one does not have a permanent enemy or a permanent friend--only a permanent context. Depending on the context, a man, a group of men, or even a state may be one's friends or foes. This fact partially explains why opposition Somalis did not hesitate to cross over to Ethiopia, the supposed quintessential foe of Somalis. Ethiopia was being treated by the Somali opposition as another clan for purposes of temporary alliance in the interminable shifting coalitions of Somali pastoral clan politics.

Lineage segmentation of the Somali variety thus inherently militates against the evolution and endurance of a stable, centralized state. Although exacerbated by Siad Barre's exploitation of interclan rivalries, institutional instability is actually woven into the fabric of Somali society.

If "Somali's regard the qanoon as a binding moral commonwealth, capable of restraining any tendency to engage in fractious intercine warfare" then why doesn't it do so? Or maybe not all or even most Somali's regard it as binding which then renders it meaningless. If it is meaningless, and it must be because it isn't restraining their 'warlike tendencies', then it can hardly be an offset for the "the divisive nature of Somali kinship".


Viewing Somalis as doggedly and destructively furthering their own clanistic ambitions through constant warfare is crude and narrow minded.

Or a view that is educated and based on first hand experience as opposed to one based on the odd feature article in the weekend Herald or "a diverse array of "reputable" publications".


The blame for the degeneration of the clan social mechanisim lies mainly with the dictorial SRC, which dissolved the progressive constitution of the first republic with "scientific socialism", an ideology that attempted to destabilise traditional Somali social norms with neo-marxisim and suppression of political dissent. The degradation of the clan system, excerbated by famine and war with Ethiopia resulted in administrative collaspe and the rise of a pernicious patriachal authority system which filled the void left by the defunct SRC.

No, the clan system neither was nor is degraded. In fact Siad Barre's rule only enhanced the importance of the clan system in Somali society.

The forced dissolution of political parties in 1969 and the continuing prohibition of political activity tended to enhance the importance of clans because family gatherings remained virtually the only regular venue where politics could be discussed freely.


It was communisim, not clan warfare that destroyed Somalia as a functioning nation.

Utterly simplistic and far too simplified to blame the anarchy in Somalia on communism not too mention wrong.

The most significant political consequence of Siad Barre's twenty-one-year rule was an intensified identification with parochial clans. By 1992 the multiplicity of political rivalries among the country's numerous clans seriously jeopardized Somalia's continued existence as a unified state. There was considerable irony in this situation because Siad Barre, following the 1969 military coup that had brought him to power, had proclaimed his opposition to clan politics and had justified the banning of political parties on the grounds that they were merely partisan organizations that impeded national integration. Nevertheless, from the beginning of his rule Siad Barre favored the lineages and clans of his own clan-family, the Daarood (see The Segmentary Social Order , ch. 2). In particular, he distributed political offices and the powers and rewards concomitant with these positions disproportionately to three clans of the Daarood: his own clan, the Mareehaan; the clan of his son-in-law, the Dulbahante; and the clan of his mother, the Ogaden. The exclusion of other clans from important government posts was a gradual process, but by the late 1970s there was a growing perception, at least among the political elite, that Siad Barre was unduly partial toward the three Daarood clans to which he had family ties.

It WAS clan warfare that destroyed Somalia.


As for Afghanistan, only Kabul is controlled by coalition forces; the provinces are over run by Taleban radicals and warring tribesman who engage in interminable conflict.

HA! WRONG!

Aside from the hysterical assertion that the Taliban have "over run" the provinces the tribesmen are not "warring"


That is a civil war to me.

Then you are deluded as well as ignorant.