Mogadishu Islamic Courts Meeting

Mogadishu, Somalia, October 5, 2006 – Somalia’s powerful Islamic Courts in Somalia capital have officially declared on Thursday the formation of supreme Islamic Sharea court of Banadir province in crucial meeting in Mogadishu – this is the first move by Islamists towards improving security and judiciary since they took control of the city June 5.

An announcement ceremony attended by all Islamic officials; both consultative and executive councils, intellectuals and civil society members has taken place in former villa Somalia presidential palace in central Mogadishu.

Sheik Hassan Osman Ahmed known as (Hassan Mahdi), the head of the judiciary office in the executive council of Islamic Courts read out the script of the court’s announcement.

He briefed to the reports at the ceremony about set up of supreme Banadir Sharia court saying the court consist of four main parts including;

1. The court for returning of the forcefully taken fixed assets in areas controlled by Islamists, containing of 11 members, whose chairman was nominated for Dr. Omar Abdalla Ali.

2. The court for verdict in Banadir province of 12 members and its chairman was Abdirahman Hassan Omar.

3. The court of Banadir province with its chairman was Dr. Hussein Abdi Elmi and consists of 12 members.

4. The court for districts of Banadir province with 21 police stations and 64 judges.

Sheik Hassan Mahdi told the local media that 35 of 110 members of the today’s declared court’s parts will operate officially on Saturday. “Also we are planning to form the same Islamic administration in provinces of middle and lower Shabelles in Somalia and that will help people in terms of injustice and security,” he said.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the leader of executive council of Islamic Courts who also delivered his speech at the ceremony said the new administration will be remedy for all Somalis from the long running injustice they had experienced before.

Sheik Ahmed also raised in his address the arrest and the torture of well known Somali cleric, in Hargeysa jail by Somaliland police appealing the authorities of Somaliland to release Sheik Mohamed Ismael and other innocent religious people who are illegally being held in the prisons.

He praised both regional states Somaliland and Puntland for their efforts to establish peace and stability but warned them of putting more pressure on the religious people, saying the officials of these autonomous regions should respect the Islamic cleric for their religious duties.

Earlier, the head of Islamic Courts in Juba regions in southern Somalia Sheikh Hassan Turki, a hardliner Islamist said they will forcefully release Sheik Ismael from the cell in Hargeysa if Somaliland officials don’t comply with the calls on freeing him.

During his speech, Sheik Ahmed again condemned the military interference by Ethiopia government in Somalia as clearly violation of the country’s integrity, saying that Ethiopia soldiers are still in Somali territory. He stressed that Islamic Courts and Somali people will launch holy war against any outside troops to defend their religion and land.

Among the Islamic officials addressed the ceremony was Sheikh Hassan Fahir Aweys, the leader of consultative council of Islamic Courts welcoming the formation of the new courts as positive step towards peace and development in the country.

He urged all Somali community to give their support to the Islamic Courts to do the best Islamic judge for them.

Sheik Abdillahi Abu-Uteyba, the deputy leader of security of Islamic Courts, who has also addressed at scene detailed about the security change in Banadir province since the Islamists seized control of the capital early June and also he highlighted the operation in the Islamic stations in the capital. He said the Islamic fighters arrested many people suspected for different crimes and are waiting for trail.

The latest announcement of the central Islamic Court ends all tribal Islamic Courts in the capital.

Source: SomaliNet