February 18, 2013
Dear Mr. President,
As a Somali woman, an international women’s rights activist, and an African Union Ambassador for Peace and Security, I write to convey my deepest concerns for the recent conviction of a journalist and a woman alleging rape at the hands of government soldiers. I am shocked by this outrageous conviction and I urge you to remedy the situation as soon as possible, by exonerating the woman and the journalist, and ordering their immediate release from prison.
As I am sure you know well, on February 5, 2013, a Benadir regional court convicted journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim and an alleged rape victim of multiple crimes under both the penal code and Sharia law. They have both been sentenced to one year in prison and Abdiaziz Abdinur remains in Mogadishu Central Prison.
I am deeply troubled by the police handling of this woman and her allegations. Months after reporting her allegation to the police, she was arrested on January 10 and held for two days. She was questioned without a lawyer, brought before the media and coerced to recant her story. She has been steadfast both before and after that media briefing that she was in fact raped in August 2012. Her husband was detained for almost two weeks after he stood by her and believed her allegation of rape. I fear that the treatment of this woman will prevent other survivors in Somalia from reporting sexual violence crimes. We know well that rape, female genital mutilation and other sexual violence have been widespread throughout the Somali conflict.
Police have also mishandled the case of journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur, who interviewed the woman in January 2013. He was arrested and held for 20 days without charge. Police obstructed his access to lawyers and doctors during his detention. At trial the defense wasn’t even permitted to put on witnesses or to rebut the prosecution’s case in any way.
In light of your strong personal commitment to ending sexual violence in Somalia, I understand that this case must be of great concern to you. I believe you understand that the mishandling of this case is undermining your new government’s expressed commitment to human rights, particularly addressing sexual violence and freedom of the press. This woman’s allegations should be investigated in a very serious and meaningful way.
I have great expectations for my country and for your new government. But your success hinges on greater respect for women’s rights and media rights. Therefore I appeal to you, my government and to our judges to ensure that there is peace, freedom and respect for one another in Somalia. To do this, I urge you to exonerate this young woman and free the journalist from prison.
Waris Dirie
Desert Flower Foundation
Founder and President African Union Ambassador for Peace and Security
am soo proud of you my dear sis waris keep it upppppp and let the haters say what they wan’t
iam very sad indeed to hear such inhuman at this centuary to miss Diriye we congratulate u by brave step u made in speaking loud on behalf of voiceless somali women
Yes its surely absolutely right to urge and request the release of these innocent victims from the president.
Do you know there is an on going process that the government is reforming the judiciary system, where by religion, tradition and law experts will be gathered, probably in Mogadishu.
From view point that I’m in the position of the president; I would punish those who committed the evil and unlawful actions, crimes and scenes against humanity and human dignity, but some one who knows a lot of the current judiciary system of Somalia, would really favor for the president…
You can do things when they will not bring bad consequences, you can punish the people when they agreed the Dos and Donts with you.
Somalia is a nation that has been destroying for more than a couple of decades, every thing can’t go back to its appropriate and suitable position within a year a month or so forth…
Thanks for your enthusiasm, concern, care and respect to AbdulAziz and the poor rape survivor…
Iam so happy and proud of you waris,please continue advocatig for wamen especially Somali wamen who have been living in dark live past 22 years.pls stay on bourd. bye fos geyre.mogadishu,somalia
Miss Waris and all those outside in the country who accuse the human right activist only read the news or get a report of one side but they did not actual get the inside news of any case like the raped case.
Getting back to the women in the raped case and journalist, in fact as the president pointed out in the Chatham house for this speech the women in the raped case and many other cases pending the court will wait the Justices if the one side didn’t understand or make urge he can take am-peal to the next court until the final court.
In the letter of waris and many others who concern such cases like this always make a highlight to some thing opposes to government point of view, also note there is no reason to make guilty until court proved to be guilty for every Somali person where he is inside or outside of the country.
Finally I encourage the Somali intellectuals inside or outside to be proud to their country thought they know that the road map in process.
Many Thanks
Actually it is extremely bad to put a jail in a victim who has been raped according to south and central Somalia it is normal to rape the women then to put a jail but in northern Somalia or Somali land no one can rape a woman even if he rape her he will get the consequence and punishment of this action according the law the question is no body care the democracy, freedom of speech, and even the peace and development which is progressive and sequential the biggest question which is in mind i don’t have any answer is why the world not supporting somalilnad police force their millatery forces and sea force of somaliland even if they dont give recognition why dont they help them to maintain security and stability oooooooooooooooooooh the answer is western countries only help countries which ;;;;;;;;;;;;fill the empy space it for you to answer.
Congrats Madam Weris Diriye 4 ua trial.
unfortunately no body among the gover officials z ready 2 listen 2 ua words & accept ua plea & request.
coze they don’t abide by neither the book they blv in nor the constitution of the country.
but that won’t make us 2 give up & keep quite abt such a heart breaking actioms being taken by a (mooryaan) with the shirt of a central goverment.
thanks Dear Waris Dirie about your restless concern of the Somali women and Girls in particular and Violence against women in general and how deeply you understood in this case.
more women become silent about their case to deposit into the police station and the Somali courts in the next future.
we need more from you in the May 2013 conference in London and before
you will succeed.
Well done Weris Diriye
Congratulation Waris for speaking out,I admire your bravery,it takes a lot of courage to write such a letter.I’m a Somali woman, a daughter and a mother myself and you’re speaking on behave of thousands of us who are voiceless.” THANK YOU”
Those days the government oficials does not read letters.IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU VISIT HIM PERSONALLY.
This is vital letter. It carries a lot of information about how Somali women are done a torture every after collapse os central goverment . Today, Somali women ask a justice, right, and confortable life to live.
The world community is outraged at the barbaric imprisonment of these two innocents. Rather than punishing the victim, you should launch an investigation and punish those guilty of rape.
I admire Waris Dirie and support her cause for advancing the rights of women in Somalia and respect for the press and media. I stand with her regarding the case of the young Somali rape victim and the journalist who are both jailed! I hope that the president of Somalia puts an end to this injustice and continue the path for building a Somalia free of such atrocities.
President Obama,
Please heed this woman’s plea for respect for women’s rights in Somalia. Insist that this young woman, rape victim, be exonerated and that the journalist be freed. You won the Nobel Prize, this might be a way to earn it. Promote peace through justice.
Sandra Sather-Westley
English Lit-Humanities Instructor
Fort Peck Community College
Thank you Waris, for speaking out on this issue which is important for all Somalis, but especially women and for journalists.
Congratulations on this letter. Please keep me informed and thank you for your hard work.
Sincerely,
Sandra Kwa
Stop FGM !!!!!!!!
No more, please!!!! Let to be woman be a woman…..