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Somalia's Al-Shabab bans handshakes between men and women
As if you didn't have enough reasons to avoid visiting Somalia, Al-Shabab has given you another. BBC reports that the Islamist group has banned handshakes between men and women in the town of Jowhar. It's also illegal to walk with or chat with a member of the opposite sex you're not related to.
It's not clear what the punishment would be for committing these "crimes", but BBC's correspondent in Mogadishu says a common punishment is public flogging.
Al-Shabab controls much of southern and central Somalia and rules under a harsh form of Shariah law that, in the humble opinion of this agnostic, has nothing to do with real Islam. I've read the Koran twice and don't recall anything about it being a sin to shake hands or talk with someone of the opposite sex. In fact, I've had conversations in public with many devout Muslim women, including Somali women. Looks like these women could tell Al-Shabab a thing or two about Islam.
Luckily not all of Somalia is controlled by these idiots. In the north part of the country, Puntland remains free from their rule, although it's full of pirates, and Somaliland is a safe place to travel. When visiting Somaliland I met a lot of refugees from the south and they all felt tremendously grateful that they didn't have to live with Al-Shabab's false form of Islam.
[Image courtesy user Hucz via Wikimedia Commons]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
idk????? Jan 9th 2011 1:54PM
that is just cold!!! is it really suppose to be a new law??? who do these people think they are?!? where is the fairness in all this? don't the people get a say?
tllngilkii Jan 10th 2011 2:58AM
Dont critisize someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.I'm always amazed how people(like you) always formulate opinions about someone else's customs,mores,values.I'm sure if they looked at some of the things YOU say and do, they'd probably be just as baffled and per-
-plexed. Did you ever give that some thought? Let me answer that for you,NO you did not.
Me Jan 11th 2011 2:55AM
This is a case of the extremely loud wheel getting all the oil. Bad idea to let the the most vocal few run the nation. (Starting with a single town......)
Thanks for the blurb, good to keep up to date on the spread of Islam.
BTW, women are actually not permitted to cover their faces when they are going around the Kabaa. True, heard from a friend who converted and did her obligatory hajj pilgrimage! Surprised her too.
John Jan 12th 2011 2:58AM
While every body else is moving embracing new technology these buffoons in Somalia are busy controlling women. No one wonder why Somalia still remains the poorest country in Africa it's because it's leaders are selfish, thieves, and always doing stupid things in a name of religion. People in Somalia have to wake up to themselves and get rid of these morons once and for all. We are sick of Somali refugees coming to our country why don't you guys sort out your mess. A good start is to get rid of religion and tribalism. Religion in Somalia is abused so get rid and get peace that way the warlords have no where to hide it's really pathetic that our black brothers are suffering like this because a few individuals. Cheers.
laydeemuslimah Jan 13th 2011 12:52PM
I want to return to my homeland;somalia one day and I want al shabab to rule the country.Why do the media and non-muslims care about somalia.we are proud just leave our country.It sounds like they are jelous of somali and al shabab.Al shabab control badio (part of somali) and there is peace there and people walk freely and safe because they know they wont harm them.Also hand shakes are forbidden in islam any ways.
Sean McLachlan Jan 13th 2011 12:58PM
I bet you can't show me a verse in the Koran or Hadith that specifically forbids shaking hands.
Lonedog Feb 17th 2011 7:51PM
Hey Laydeemuslim: I would be very happy to see you and all other Somali muslims like you leave my country and return to your own country where you, the warlords and other stoneage thinking zelots would surely be flogged in public for communicating with me "a man." We actually don't care about Somali people we simply would like to see the thieving warlords and pirates keep their crimes within the borders of thair own country. Socially autistic idiots like you are preverting and will eventually destory one of the most ancient, beautiful and peaceful religions on earth. Too bad for you; Satan awaits.
natty Feb 15th 2011 3:47AM
laydeemuslimah, If Somalia is so great why did you leave? And if you think flogging someone for shaking hands is good you are crazy and brainwashed. And why would you choose to leave that country and live in a place where all the things that your religion forbids is practiced??? Was it to get the proper civilized education you couldn't get in Somalia?? Just reminding you of your hypocritical posting. You want what the west has, but at the same time you criticise our way of life. You need to go back to Somalia and live in ignorance.
Mary Shelley Feb 5th 2011 1:44AM
Stupid LAYDEEMUSLIMAH, what the heck are you garbling and mumbling about? If you want to return to your harsh and backwards country, why did you leave in the first place? You must be crazy because you said it sounds like people are jealous of Somalia and that there is peace with Al ShaBadMan running the show. Oh, I know what--you're trying to be comical.
Mary Shelley Feb 4th 2011 5:57PM
Can't shake hands!? How utterly and mystifyingly STUPID & Repressive!!! Someone needs to take AlShaBadMan and give him a dose of his own cruel punishment. Flog him and whip him and beat him and torture him and castrate him. Why not? Who is he to make up his own rules and pretend that they came from above?
Oswald Feb 14th 2011 2:09AM
It's easy to blame people, nice! But have you guys ever thought about the WHY of everything? You 've better do that asap. You set fire in people's country, you come back as firefighters and take them to USA for modern slavery and then blame the smartest among them who do not want to watch you messing up their country. Yes you can see stupid and dumb in Africa and everywhere else USA included. But why are you that concerned when some of them say no to your FOOLISH BULLSHIT ? Do you know how they got wars in Africa? Stop getting interest in their resources and these people will get out of USA. They do not need to be here. Take these example: Ben Ali from Tunisia who stole a huge amount of money and more than 150 kg of GOLD when he was president. Consider how much USA got from him, then Europe and so. Consider what his co-worker like ministers and parliaments stole too. now check the richest man on Earth HOSNI MUBARAK with between 50 and 70 billions dollars and consider the same people I mentioned before, stealing the poor African country with Hosni's blessings. Americans and Europeans taking advantage on Africa and getting fat while Africans are getting skinny, and you are calling their country POOR Country. Come on, sit down and think, be honest and fair and you can see the truth, if not, you'll just see what they want you to see and of course you'll say what they want you to say. God bless you folks
Matthew Rand Jun 19th 2011 12:49PM
Sean,
You are using a Protestant viewpoint, (Sola Scriptura), and applying it to Islam, which has no such doctrine. It isn't even an ancient Christian viewpoint, as Protestantism is only about 500 years of a 2000 year-old religion. Even more to the point, only 500 years of a Western Christian viewpoint.
I think traditional minded religious people of the Abrahamic faiths, (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) recognize the origin of such laws as the one in Somalia. The laws center around preventing undue familiarity with the opposite sex, which can lead to immodest behavior and sexual fornication.
In an earlier time, it was a Christian sensibility to closely monitor contact between the opposite sex in order to preserve the virtue of youth.
lonedog Feb 18th 2011 3:37AM
First off Oswald "Africa" is not a country it's a continent with over fifty coutries of which the United States contributed over $400 billion dollars in foreign aid during the past 10 years not to mention the the farm impliments and tech assistance provided by "The Alliance For Progress," or the "Lend/Lease program participated in by the very American corporations you condem. I will not even mention the contributions made by over 150 private charities; then there's Bill Gates who donated 4 billion to fight AIDS in Africa. I'm sure your mother gave you civic books to read but you probably just ate the pages.