Human rights organization condems use of amputation in Somalia

The violence in Somalia has increased in the last month, prompting international human rights organizations to develop crisis actions, calling for world citizens to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in the East African country.

According to an Amnesty International press release, dozens of civilians have been killed in the ongoing fighting between pro and anti-government forces in the capital of Somalia. During these clashes, militias are using amputations and unlawful killings to strike fear into the hearts of locals.

“Punishments like amputations and killings illustrate the extent to which violence still substitutes for the rule of law in many areas of Somalia,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme.

Many of these amputations are occurring in the city of Kismayo, Somalia, which is an area controlled by extremist Islamic rebels.

“Armed opposition leaders controlling Kismayo are carrying out punishments without any oversight or accountability. These punishments amount to clear human rights abuses – in some cases unlawful killings and torture.”

Recently, Somali Mohamed Omar Ismail was publically amputated by local leaders in a park after stealing around $90.00.

The international human rights organization is calling on the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to condemn the amputations, many of which have been caught on camera by passersby. Such types of torture have been occurring since 2008, according to Amnesty International. In addition, firing squads and stoning are used to punish accused criminals.

“Such acts of brutality highlight the critical need for the UN and other international actors to take concrete steps to stop continued human rights abuses, including by establishing an independent commission of inquiry or similar mechanism to investigate human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict and bringing perpetrators to account,” said Michelle Kagari.

Amnesty International did not address the issue of Sharia Law, a type of Islamic law that has turned extreme in certain areas of Somalia.

Fighting continued in the capital of Mogadishu, with Somalia’s President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed urging Islamic insurgents to negotiate as thousands of civilians were being displaced daily.

The United Nations refugee agency reported that about 30,000 people have been displaced from their homes in the last week. It is also estimated at 16,000 innocent civilians have been killed since 2007 and more than one million people are internally displaced.