Somali militants stone woman to death

By By Feisal Omar | Reuters Sat, 27 Sep, 2014

By Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali al Shabaab militants stoned a woman to death in the southern
town of Barawe on Friday after a court they had set up declared her guilty of adultery, the militants
and witnesses said.
The group, which pledges loyalty to al Qaeda, has waged an armed campaign to impose its strict
interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. Forced out of many areas of the east African country by African
Union forces and the Somali army, al Shabaab is keen to show it has authority over areas it still
controls.
Hundreds gathered to watch the killing of Safia Ahmed Jimale in an open field. The 33-year old
mother was buried up to her shoulders and pelted with stones by masked al Shabaab fighters and
local men.
Some in the audience vomited, said resident Ahmed Abdullahi, who was in the crowd. The killing
was witnessed by the al Shabaab governor for the region.
Her body was then dug out of the ground and carried away for funeral prayers, Abdullahi said.
A man who presented himself as an al Shabaab judge said Jimale had confessed to having three
husbands. He said the three men were not aware they were married to the same woman and had
testified against her.
Jimale had admitted her guilt before the court and declared she was ready to be stoned to secure
God's forgiveness, said the unidentified judge.

Courts set up by the militants do not allow legal representation or appeals. Jimale's family could not
be reached for comment.
Islamic practice in many Muslim countries permits a woman to have only one husband but a man
can have as many as four wives.
Al Shabaab has banned many aspects of modern life and ordered executions, floggings and
amputations for crimes such as theft. Its fighters has been harrying the government in the capital
Mogadishu with a series of hit-and-run style gun and grenade attacks in recent years, following huge
losses of territory.

Content:
1. Why was Jimale killed?
2. What did the judge claim Jimale said about being stoned to death?

Context:
3. Why are the paragraphs and sentences so short?
4. How does the photograph make the article more effective?

Concept
5. Is the execution of Jimale hypocritical? Explain your answer.
6. How do you respond to the fact that courts set up by the militants do not

allow legal representation or appeals?

Answer:
1. A judge said Jimale had three husbands. He said the three men didnt
know they were married to the same woman. Islamic practice in many
Muslim countries tolerate a woman to have only one husband but a man
can have as many as four wives.
2. Jimale had admitted her fault in the court and stated she was ready to be
stoned to secure God's forgiveness.
3. So the readers can understand the article, because if its too long the
readers will be bored and didnt understand the story.
4. Its shows the action clearly, because some of the people need to see a
picture or video to understand, they didnt understand if theyre just
reading.

5. Yes, because she has the right to live. What she did is wrong, but she
didnt need to be executed. They have no right to kill her.
6. I think its the wrong decision, because her family cant give their opinion
about what punishment she deserves.