We are deeply concerned with the detention and trial in Hargeisa,
Somaliland, of Samsam Ahmed Du’aale, a 16-year old girl and Omar Jama
Warsame. It has been claimed that both Samsam and Omar have been tortured
and beaten by the police. It has also been alleged that Samsam had been
raped by police officers as she is being detained and tried as an adult
person.
Samsam was ridiculously accused of espionage and conspiracy to
assassinate the Vice-president of Somaliland, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin. On 24
November 2004, when the case was challenged in the court by the defence
lawyers, the judge ruthlessly accused the lawyers, Yusuf Ismail Ali, Mohamed
Said Hirsi, Fawzi Sheekh Yonis and Abdirahman Ibrahim Alim, of court
contempt and sentenced them to three years imprisonment. The judge also
dismissed Samsam’s allegations of rape and other torture while in custody
without any investigation.
Later, it was alleged that the police arrested and intimated members of
Samatalis and the Academy for Peace and Development, human rights activists
in Somaliland. Similarly, anyone suspected on account of criticising the
authority over this case was being intimidated by the police. Samsam’s case
is reminiscent of the old days’ of the military regime of Siyad Barre where
the disrespects and violations of human rights were daily occurrences. These
acts will damage the reputation of Somaliland which was vaunting itself for
the peace and development it has been enjoying since it declared itself
as an ‘independent republic’.
We appeal to the Somaliland authorities to release Samsam Ahmed Du’aale
and Omar Jama Warsame without any condition as it ridiculous to accuse a
young girl of espionage and conspiracy to assassinate a high profile
personality in Somaliland. We also ask to the authority to call an
independent inquiry of the alleged rape and torture. On the basise of this
finding, the authorities should persecute those alleged to be responsible
for this serious crime.
