Tuesday August 6, 2024
Women hold Somali flags in Kismayo amidst the enforcement of a niqab ban by local authorities. The ban, initially imposed in 2021 for security reasons, has seen renewed enforcement as concerns grow over potential disguises by Al-Shabaab militants. Police have confiscated and burned hundreds of face veils in public as part of the crackdown.
Kismayo (HOL) — Jubbaland security forces have seized and burned hundreds of niqabs in Kismayo, stepping up efforts to enforce a ban on the face veils amid fears that Al-Shabaab militants are using them to disguise themselves during attacks.
The crackdown, which began on July 31, involved police stopping women in the streets and markets, forcing them to remove their niqabs, and publicly burning the confiscated garments. "This initiative aims to prevent wanted criminals from using niqabs to hide their faces," said Warsame Ahmed Geelle, commander of the Kismayo Police Force, in a statement to Jubbaland TV.
The niqab ban was first introduced in 2013 for security reasons but has not been rigorously enforced until now. Authorities renewed the enforcement due to heightened concerns that Al-Shabaab fighters might exploit the niqab to carry out attacks. "Al-Shabaab may use the face veil to disguise themselves as women to conduct assaults," Geelle added.
Al-Shabaab, which controls large parts of southern and central Somalia, has been waging an insurgency against the UN-backed government for nearly two decades. The group recently carried out a deadly attack on a Mogadishu beachfront, killing 37 people. This attack is believed to be a reprisal for military operations in Jubaland, where Somali forces killed dozens of Al-Shabaab fighters around 90 kilometres from Kismayo.
Witnesses in Kismayo reported seeing police stopping women whose faces were covered, removing their niqabs, and burning them. "The police stopped some women whose faces were covered, removed the face veil, and also collected some from the market and burned them publicly," said Hasan Muse, a witness.
Women found wearing niqabs now face fines and imprisonment. This enforcement has sparked mixed reactions due to the cultural and religious significance of the niqab for many Somali women. While the niqab remains popular among some, the hijab, which covers the hair but not the face, is more commonly worn.
Similar niqab bans have been enforced in other southern towns like Baidoa and Dolow for security reasons. The ongoing enforcement in Kismayo highlights the delicate balance between addressing security threats and respecting cultural and religious practices in Somalia.