Ban On Hijab Begins In Somalia

London, February 19, 2007--Two months after the Islamic Courts Union regime was flushed out in the country, the transitional federal government is now at the brink of transforming Somalia into a secular state. This action begins today as security officers have started removing the hijab or veil from women's heads on the streets of major cities in the country.

With a heightened violence and explosions against the federal government in Mogadishu, Somali authorities said the ban on hijab is their efforts to beef up security. The hijab, which does not have much tradition in Somalia, is mostly seen as a political expression of support for radical Islamism.

The government posted security officers in key strategic locations of the capital Mogadishu. These officers could be seen stopping veiled women walking on foot or on board cars, asking them to remove their veils.

Though the government is economical in defending the move, it is however believed that it has been precipitated by fears of the Islamists remnants using veiled women to hatch their plot against Somalis.

Recent violence in Mogadishu has killed 8 civilians and wounded several others.

The veiled women, who said they were not fairly treated, would not walk home without protesting against the forceful removal of hijab, which according to them, should be worn by all pious Muslim women.

They said security forces forcefully unveiled them after they initially rejected to unveil themselves. Islamic leaders are yet to react to the issue.

In a separate development, Somali officials have been accused of censoring the country's three independent radio stations - 'Shabelle', 'Horn Afrik' and 'Banadir' - warning them that they must not report on anything relating to Somali/Ethiopian military operations in Mogadishu, which they consider as "top secret." The stations have received instructions asking them to censor themselves on the fleeing of civilians, a direct consequence of the same operations.

The deputy Commander of Somalia security operations, General Nour Mohammed Mohmoud, presented the written instructions to the officials of the three stations that serve as the population's only source of public information.

Under the new order, the government is mandated to select editors from the three radio stations who must cooperate with security department agents.

The Somali government has held anger against the stations for allowing some people on air to pin down the allied troops of Somalia and Ethiopia for shelling residential areas when unknown gunmen attacked them with mortars.

In January, the Somali government shut down three radio stations but they were allowed to resume operations.

Source: Afrol News