A woman is currently facing execution in Somalia after being found guilty of killing a 14-year-old girl under her care. The murder of Saabirin Saylaan in November and the horrifying details of how she died sparked protests near her home in Galkayo, along with calls for stronger child protection in the country.
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| PHOTO: Radio Gaalkacyo |
The case deeply affected Somalia, a country where child abuse is often not reported, especially when it happens within extended families.
For many, Saabirin's death represented a bigger problem in child protection, and the slow progress of legal measures meant to avoid such tragedies.
The conviction of 34-year-old Hodan Mohamud Diiriye for murder is one of the few times in Somalia where a court has handed down the death penalty for child abuse.
Diiriye denied the charges, and her lawyer has appealed the decision.
Her husband, Abdiaziz Nor, 65, was not found guilty of murder but was given a one-year prison sentence and fined $500 (£375) for negligence.
Saabirin became an orphan at just one year old after both of her parents died within a short time.
Both of her grandmothers had died too, so she was cared for by her late mother's aunt, who made sure she received an education and went to a traditional Quranic school.
But her life changed in September when Saabirin's great-aunt agreed to let Diiriye's family take her in, as they needed someone to help around the house.
During the investigation, police revealed that for the two months Saabirin lived with Diiriye, she was beaten and tortured regularly.
Evidence from Diiriye's phone, including videos and audio recordings, showed repeated instances of violence.
Some of these were shared online before the trial — it's unclear who released them.
In one particularly disturbing recording, Diiriye is heard saying: "I'm enjoying your pain."
A post-mortem of Saabirin's body showed multiple injuries and deep stab wounds, signs of prolonged abuse.
As more details about the investigation came out, public anger grew.
Hundreds of women and young people marched in Galkayo, one of the largest cities in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region, holding signs that read "Justice for Saabirin" and demanding that all those responsible be held accountable.
They gathered outside the local hospital where Saabirin's body was kept in the morgue.
The protests got so intense that demonstrators clashed with police, and a young man was shot dead — though it's unclear who fired the shot.
Online, young women and girls started a wave of solidarity campaigns using hashtags in honor of Saabirin.
An 18-year-old protester named Aniiso Abdullahi shared a clip on social media, saying: "No child should die like this."
"We also reject the attempts by traditional elders who want to resolve this case through clan customs or in secret," she added.
Elders from the clans of those involved in a dispute usually step in to avoid revenge and further violence, rather than focus on establishing criminal guilt.
Usually, some kind of compensation is agreed upon, but this process often prioritizes peace over justice for the victim, and the voices of women and children are not always heard.
Child abuse in Somalia is often hidden within homes, and extended families are traditionally seen as safe and private spaces — places where the state shouldn't interfere.
Diiriye's trial and related hearings were broadcast live on social media to build public confidence in the justice system.
Regional police commander Mohamud Abdihakim stated that the verdict was a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the murdered teenager.
"The perpetrator is now only waiting for the death sentence to be carried out.
If more evidence comes out showing that others were involved in the crime, they will not be left out. The law will be applied fully to them, too," he added.
Najeb Wehelie, director of the child rights organization Dhoodaan, said the case shows the big gaps that still exist in protecting children's most basic human rights in society.
"Children continue to face violence inside family homes, and only the most extreme cases ever reach the police," he added.
In June of this year, police in the capital, Mogadishu, received a report that a three-year-old boy had been seriously abused by his father's wife.
The alleged perpetrator was quickly arrested.
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