Somali shock as mayor filmed lashing partygoers-Al Jazeera

Current position：Home page > Press center8 > Somali shock as mayor filmed lashing partygoers text

Somali shock as mayor filmed lashing partygoers

time：2023-06-05 13:56:13 source：Al Jazeera

The mayor of Mogadishu is taking no prisoners when it comes to his recent crackdown on drugs in the Somali capital - literally.

Instead Yusuf Hussein Jimale has taken to the whip - as evidenced by a video in which he is seen lashing a group of young men and women.

They flinch away as he hits them with a long stick, accused of smoking cannabis, shisha - the sweet-smelling herbal tobacco - and drinking alcohol in a nightclub on the city's famous Lido Beach.

Mogadishu, one of the most dangerous cities in the world with daily dangers of attacks by Islamist militants, is now facing increasing problems with organised gangs.

The authorities believe this is leading to substance abuse - especially among young people - which is why the mayor has set his sights on tackling the problem.

For months there have been raids on restaurants and entertainment venues.

This week the mayor, known more widely by his nickname "Madale", meaning "energetic", banned all traders in the city from selling tobacco and shisha - as well as substances already outlawed in the Muslim country like alcohol.

Madale has defended his stance - and his use of the lash, saying young people need to be disciplined, and a stick is better than a gun.

"Since they were drunk, some of them tried to fight with us and we whipped them. Morally we cannot allow the behaviours we have witnessed and no-one can tolerate that," he said 10 days ago.

Some have been angered by what they deem the mayor's vigilantism - wanting to see evidence of his victims' alleged misdemeanours and demanding due process.

"The mayor took the law into his own hands instead of leaving it to the relevant agencies. The person who commits a crime should be addressed through the prosecution and the judicial system," Muna Hassan, a social affairs activist in Mogadishu, told the BBC.

Others see nothing wrong in the mayor's use of corporal punishment in a country where smacking children is an accepted form of discipline.

Mogadishu resident Mohamed Noor tweeted that he regarded Madale's behaviour akin to that of a parent.

This kind of discipline was better than harsher methods such as arrest and incarceration, which "would turn people into life-long criminals", he posted.

Mogadishu municipality spokesman said the main thrust of the anti-drug policy was to revoke the licences of bar and restaurants where drugs were found on the premises.

"We are committed to prevent anything that goes against our beliefs, culture and the moral standard of our society," Salah Deere told the BBC Somali service.

However, Manar Ma'lim, whose bar is among those that have been closed, denies these allegations.

"I don't see it as anti-cultural behaviour but rather a move to destroy my business," she told the BBC.

Her belief is that the raid was a ploy to take over her venue, which has been profitable over the last nine years as it is popular with young people. So angry is she about the move that she said in a Facebook post she planned to leave the country.

The authorities deny anything untoward about the crackdown, saying the mayor's focus is just about flushing out drugs for good.

Though some question why the narcotic leaf khat is not on his agenda, given its massive popularity.

After fresh khat shipments arrive in Mogadishu by plane each day, many men go to chew the leaf for hours - it acts as a mild stimulant, making chewers initially talkative and social. It is especially popular with those serving in the security forces.

Some Somalis believe its long-term effects - dramatic mood changes and depression amongst them - are destroying families and would like to see it banned.

British Airways cancels dozens of Heathrow fradiants after IT problem

Elon Musk sells $4 BILLION worth of Tesla shares in third-massivgest dump since launching bid to buy Twitter for $44billion: CEO's net worth plummets to $200B

At least 12 people - including children - are injured after being trapped in burning Maryland acomponentment erecting: Fire rips through homes in 'mass casualty' incident

'We are going to consequentlylve homelessness': LA's first black female mayor Karen Bass vows to deal with rising crime and 'chaos on the streets' - notwithstanding Hollywood elite slamming Dems for doing NOTHING

Knifeman killed two on German train before brave travelers tackled him

Now My Pillow exec Mike Lindell to dispatch a team to look at Gov. Ron DeSantis' stunning win in Miami-Dade County, Florida - calling it a 'deviation' (as he takes a break to get advice from his lawyer)

NASA shoots for the moon! $4 billion Artemis rocket that was feared 'doomed' after months of delays finally launches on a 25-day mission around the moon

BREAKING NEWS: Brazil manager Tite STICKS with Eder Militao and Danilo as emergency full backs for quarter-final against Croatia, while Neymar leads the World Cup favourites' assault as he hunts down Pele's record of 77 goals

Amazon staff protest climate record and office return

It's over: Dr. Oz calls John Fetterman to concede after tight Pennsylvania Senate race saw Republican

Previous article：Jeremy Renner shares photo of physical therapy session and reveals he's suffered more than 30 broken bones after star was almost crushed to death by 14,000-pound snowplow
Next article：Young American Sebastian Korda books his spot in a first EVER Grand Slam quarterfinal as he survives grueling fifth-set tiebreak to beat No 10 seed Hubert Hurkacz at the Australian Open