Child Abuse and Protection Issues Highlighted by Murder Case in Somalia
Saabirin Saylaan, a 14-year-old girl, was killed in November while in the care of Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, who has been convicted of murder and now faces the death penalty. Diiriye's husband, Abdiaziz Nor, 65, was acquitted of murder charges but received a one-year prison sentence and a $500 fine for negligence. Diiriye has appealed the conviction. Saabirin had been an orphan since the age of one and was living with her great-aunt before Diiriye's family took her in as a home helper for two months, during which she suffered routine physical abuse. Police evidence from Diiriye’s phone documented the violence, and a post-mortem revealed multiple injuries, including deep stab wounds.
The case has sparked protests in Galkayo, Puntland, where hundreds of women and youths clashed with police. During the demonstrations, a young man was shot dead, though no clear information about the shooter has been identified.
Officials noted the case exposed significant gaps in child protection in Somalia. Dhoodaan director Najeb Wehelie indicated the presence of safeguarding gaps and suggested that more suspects could be charged if additional evidence emerges. Child abuse in Somalia often remains hidden within households and extended families, with clan customs typically resolving disputes privately, which limits justice for victims and suppresses women's and children's voices.
On October 1, Somalia's parliament ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. However, the government has stated that its implementation will be guided by Islamic law and the national constitution, raising concerns about the age of marriage and enforcement measures.
Further underscoring the vulnerabilities faced by children, Save the Children reported three acts of violence against children in October and November: the arson murder of four children in Hargeisa, the rape of an 11-year-old girl in Puntland, and the murder of a mother and her three daughters in central Somalia.
