Al-Shabaab courts have issued death sentences for homosexuals in the recent past. In early 2017, Al-Shabaab reportedly executed two Somali men who had been accused of being gay.779 Already in 2013, it was reported within the (diaspora-based) Somali Gay Community that ‘18-year-old Mohamed Ali Baashi was stoned to death for sodomy by Al-Shabaab’.780 These cases were also reported by ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association).781 According to the Finnish Immigration Service, Al-Shabaab’s own radio station, Radio Andalus, reported in November 2018 that the organisation had executed a young man in Hiraan province on charges of homosexuality.782 It added that the Swedish Foreign Ministry found that men suspected of homosexuality have been punished by rape in addition to the death penalty. However, this information was difficult to verify. In general, the number of people convicted of homosexuality is thought to be higher; most likely, case reporting is limited by fear.783
- 779
Mamba Online, 15 and 20-year-old youths executed in Somalia for homosexuality, 11 January 2017, url
- 780
Steward, Colin, Report: Somalia too risky for LGBT people, 16 February 2016, url
- 781
ILGA World, State-Sponsored Homophobia 2020: Global Legislation Overview Update, 15 December 2020, url, p. 80
- 782
FIS, Somalia / Seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöjen asema Somaliassa, päivitys Somalia [Status of sexual and gender minorities in Somalia, update], 24 February 2021, url, p. 3
- 783
FIS, Somalia / Seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöjen asema Somaliassa, päivitys Somalia [Status of sexual and gender minorities in Somalia, update], 24 February 2021, url, p. 3