27/06/2026 10:37 - Internacionales
Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old woman who graduated in nursing and works as a rickshaw driver to support her family, was sentenced to three years in prison for posting critical comments about the Somali government on Facebook and TikTok. The verdict was delivered on June 25, 2024 by the Banaadir Regional Court.
Ali was originally charged with insulting government institutions and incitement to commit a crime, though she was only convicted on the first charge. Her posts denounced social issues such as youth unemployment, high fuel prices, alleged corruption, nepotism, and forced evictions.
Ali is the mother of a one-year-old girl and the primary breadwinner for her family. She has been detained since April 12, 2024. In an interview from prison, she reported suffering torture during her confinement:
The sentence sparked immediate rejection from political figures and human rights organizations:
Lawyer Mohamed Sheikh Osman announced they will appeal the sentence.
According to international organizations, since 2022, Somali authorities have intensified a crackdown against journalists, activists, and citizens expressing dissenting opinions, using arbitrary arrests, harassment, and intimidation.
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition reported that women human rights defenders face disproportionate risks, including arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, online abuse, and gender-based discrimination.
Torture is prohibited under International Law and the UN Convention Against Torture in all circumstances.
Rickshaw: A three-wheeled vehicle commonly used for public transportation in many African and Asian countries, often operated by self-employed drivers.
Nepotism: The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
Banaadir Region: An administrative region in southeastern Somalia, which includes the capital city, Mogadishu.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
