World Cup 2010: Somali football fans executed
for watching matches
Aislinn Laing ("Telegraph," June 14, 2010)
Mogadishu, Somalia - The deaths happened on Saturday near the
capital Mogadishu when members of the Hizbul Islam group stormed a
house where people were watching Nigeria play Argentina.
A further 10 people were arrested by the group, which has imposed
a strict version of Islam in the areas they control in southern and
central Somalia.
The following night, another 30 people including a 15-year-old boy
were arrested as the watched the Germany-Australia game in two private
homes in the town of Afgoye.
A spokesman for the group, Sheikh Mohamed Abdi Aros, said the rest
of Somalia should respect their ban on the World Cup – the first to
be hosted in Africa – and focus instead on "pursuing holy jihad".
"We are warning all the youth of Somalia not to dare watch these
World Cup matches. It is a waste of money and time and they will not
benefit anything or get any experience by watching mad men jumping up
and down," he said.
The ban, which has seen radio stations around the city taken off
air for playing music, has resulted in people flocking to public
cinemas in the few Government-controlled areas of the country.
Ahmed Santos used to live in an area of Somalia run by militants,
but now is in a government-controlled area.
"I can now freely watch the matches," he said. "I am so sorry that
some of my friends who are now living where I was once don't have that
chance to watch the World Cup. I really feel sorry for them."
Others are risking the wrath of the militants, such is their love
of the beautiful game.
One man, who lives in the militant-controlled livestock market
area of the city said he watched Algeria-Slovenia at home with his
family.
"I have one eye on the TV and the other on the door, and the sound
turned down," he said.
