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Loading...Somali Town Bans Women From Working
Militants in a town in war-torn southern Somalia have imposed an unthinkably harsh restriction on the women who live there by refusing to allow them to work, leaving many families destitute. The country is partially controlled by the al-Qaeda-backed militant group Al-Shabaab, which is currently trying to overthrow the weak, UN-backed government, has imposed other harsh restrictions in various towns, including forcing women to wear long, heavy black robes and threatening unrelated men and women who walk or speak together publicly with beating or even execution.
A woman in the town of Kismayo who asked not to be identified reported that women had been forbidden to work in the port, in cafeterias, or sell food on the street. This is, naturally, devastating for families that depend heavily on women’s income for their survival, and women have to decide whether they will risk death in order to feed their children and husbands.
The clothing restrictions have also been difficult for women who can’t afford to buy a new robe. One woman said that she was beaten for wearing Somali traditional dress on a bus instead of veiling completely.
The Somali insurgents are thought to be unpopular because of the harsh and arbitrary restrictions, which often vary from commander to commander, and also because they kidnap children to become fighters. They have also banned movies, music and bras, saying that they are un-Islamic, even though most Somali Muslims are Sufi, which has a rich musical tradition.
“The last time I listened a song or music, was two years ago, before the insurgents managed the full control of my village,” said one man. Now, he told the BBC, the sound of music makes him afraid.
There are some African Union troops in the capital, but they’re clearly not making a difference for most Somalis, who are subject to the whims of a cruel rebel government. It’s obvious that for Somalis, these arbitrary restrictions can mean life or death.
Read more: african union, beatings, execution, insurgents, islam, muslims, somali insurgents, Somalia, women working, womens rights, working
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
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+ add your ownI voted "yes", but I don't think the U.N. has many "powers", just suggestions. This situation of the women, is abhorrent, and it makes me so angry to see governments or militias the world over, restrict women. And recruit children to be soldiers! WHY OH WHY can't people just leave each other alone to live with their families and earn a living?!
POWER AND GREED.
That ideal only works when the men in the families work and support the women...then they can be free to raise their children and tend their homes. Alas too many men don't play their role so the women have to and the children and homes are left to run themselves.
noted and very sad:0
this story is very sad =[
Doesn't make much sense for a country so impoverished, to cut the workforce in half. But then again, among religious fundamentalists (be they Muslim, Christian or other), brains are never really in high demand. They want to take over the country so bad, but what are they planning on governing? They're hastening their countries economic collapse. How soon 'till the whole country crumbles? Religious Fundamentalists-Religious MORONS more like.
These creatures from the underground are full time employees of groups whose main goal is power through murdering innocent victims. They are digging a mass grave for the women & children & elderly residents of Somalia by imposing these insane rules.
The question was "Should the UN do more to curb Al-Shabaab's power?" NOT should the American military do more.
What's the UN going to do? These people don't want our intervention. We are after all the evil Americans, The warlords kicked our American butts the last time we tried to enter their country. The military knows this is a no win situation. Let them work it out. I'm tired of people thinking we should be the worlds police.
Sorry but this is not Islam, these people just twist islam.I work with married and unmarried muslim girls.
If they women to remain indoors....they better provide for them....this article assumes a lot that all women in somalia work whilst their men remain at home..but islam does not prohibit a woman from working....its mentioned nowhere in the quran....however in this case these people seem to be some sort of goons...uneducated ones at that.....
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