Somalia’s Puntland region executes woman convicted of killing 14-year-old girl
Judges ruled that Sabirin died after prolonged and severe abuse.
Authorities in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Tuesday carried out the execution of a woman convicted of murdering a 14-year-old girl, marking a rare case in which the death penalty has been applied to a woman in the region.
The execution took place in Galkacyo, a divided city in central Somalia, after courts found Hodan Mohamud guilty of killing Sabirin Saylaan Abdille, a minor who had been working as a domestic helper in her home.
Puntland officials said the sentence was enforced under qisas, an Islamic legal principle that allows the family of a murder victim to demand execution instead of accepting financial compensation.
Judges ruled that Sabirin died after prolonged and severe abuse.
Security officials said video footage recovered from Mohamud’s mobile phone showed acts of extreme violence against the girl and played a decisive role in securing the conviction.
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The execution followed a decree in Mudug region requiring strict application of Islamic law in murder cases, a policy introduced to curb recurring killings in Galkacyo, which is split between Puntland and neighboring Galmudug and has long suffered from insecurity.
Puntland’s Supreme Court Chairman, Ahmed Sheikh Omar Hassan, authorized the execution after prosecutors confirmed that Mohamud had not filed an appeal against the verdict issued in November.
A court order stated that the execution was to be carried out publicly and enforced by the heirs of the victim, in line with Islamic law.
Regional officials described the case as the first execution of a woman in Puntland in more than a decade.
The last known executions occurred in 2013, when 13 Al-Shabaab members, including one woman, were put to death for assassinating a prominent Islamic scholar.
While many residents welcomed the enforcement of justice, others expressed concern over the fate of Mohamud’s 13 children, all reportedly minors, highlighting the human cost surrounding the case.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.