Monday December 18, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Security forces in Mogadishu have arrested a young female social media influencer accused of regularly posting indecent videos on TikTok, which violated the ethics and culture of the community.
In a statement released Monday, the Office of the Attorney General of Somalia reported that Bisharo Idris Mohamed, also known as "Bisharo Balayo," was taken to the Banadir Regional Court.
In May, Mayor of Mogadishu Yusuf Hussein Jimale filmed himself beating young men with a long stick during his crackdown on drugs in the Somali capital. The young men were accused of smoking cannabis, shisha - the sweet-smelling herbal tobacco - and drinking alcohol in a nightclub on the city's famous Lido Beach.
However, the video sparked outrage on social media. In response, Mayor Jimale defended his stance - and his use of the lash, saying young people need to be disciplined, and a stick is better than a gun.