July 21, 2006

Somali Islamic Crackdown: 60 Arrested for Watching Movies

Sharia Alert from Somalia, via AP, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:

MOGADISHU, Somalia Jul 19, 2006 (AP)— Islamic militiamen who rule Somalia's capital arrested about 60 people for watching videos in several overnight raids in the capital, an Islamic court official and residents said Wednesday.

The roundup was the latest move by the militiamen to forcefully apply their strict interpretation of Islamic law, a practice that has stoked concerns that they want to remake Somalia after Afghanistan under the Taliban including offering a haven to terrorists.

Those arrested "will be rehabilitated and then we will release them after they are told the disadvantages of watching such films and what Islam says about watching such films," said Moalin Shire, an official of the Islamic court whose jurisdiction includes one video hall that was raided.