13-Year-Old Somali Rape Victim Stoned to Death in Front of 1000 Spectators

Before I get to the story in the headline, a brief preface:

Like so many of you, I've had the incredible privilege of being part of election 2008, first as Hillary Clinton's Internet Director and then - as part of Hillary's team - doing everything possible to help elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

And like so many of you, I shed tears when Obama was declared the winner, the long nightmare of Bush's presidency at an end and a new era at hand with a president who commands respect, who understands the issues, who is disciplined and dignified, who will begin healing the deep wounds of the past eight years.

I've been an online activist since 2001 and November 4th was a day to reflect on how much the netroots have achieved, something I wrote about recently. With 2000 and 2008 as bookends, I realized how focused many of us have been on all things Bush, doing our best to protect the country we love from his radical administration.

Going forward, there will be more work than ever for the online community, especially considering that we'll have a networked presidency. From a personal standpoint, now that Bush is on his way out, one of the things I want to spend more time writing about is the horrendous mistreatment of women and children around the globe.

Speaking of which, Vanessa Valenti posted a truly horrific story on UN Dispatch, a blog I've helped edit since early 2005 and where I'll be concentrating most of my writing in the months to come:

Last week, 13-year old Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow was stoned to death in Somalia by insurgents because she was raped. Reports indicate that was raped by three men while traveling by foot to visit her grandmother in conflict capital, Mogadishu.

When she went to the authorities to report the crime, they accused her of adultery and sentenced her to death. Aisha was forced into a hole in a stadium of 1,000 onlookers as 50 men buried her up to the neck and cast stones at her until she died.

When some of the people at the stadium tried to save her, militia opened fire on the crowd, killing a boy who was a bystander.

I hope we can all work with the incoming administration to begin creating conditions in which we can banish this barbaric and malevolent behavior from our planet.

 

Follow Peter Daou on Twitter: www.twitter.com/peterdaou

Comments

[Discomustachio]

I'd like to hope that hearing stories like this will open people’s minds. Not that Somali/Islamic culture is crazy and ours is not. I'd like to think that at some level a story like this will help people to see (as I do) that religion is the problem-any religion.

I find it hard to believe that a totally secular culture anywhere in the world would have allowed this sort of thing to happen. The rape still would have happened-but not the stoning her to death because of "adultery". I even think it is comparable (barely) to stories you hear in this country about how guys will abducted a local gay guy and tie him to their truck and drag him to his death because "God hates gays".

I realize there are plenty of people in this world that are religious and totally rational and good people who put rational thought before religious vigor. The problem is that there are just not enough of you which is why I think religion is a detriment to humanity.

[Roseberry]

All I know is i'm a Christian and this story makes me cry. If my loving kind of attitude is a detriment to humanity, then you judge. Personally i'm really tired of people saying zero belief is the answer. It is not. The problem is, all you hear about is the nasty gay-bashing folk. Those of us who believe in love don't go around doing horrible things like that, much less even think of them. I seriously doubt the gay-haters are true Christians. They are religious, yes, but I do agree with you: religion is bad for us all. Truth is not.

[emncaity]

Repeating a response from above:

Sure, why not? Ignore all the humanitarian good done in the name of religion, and look only at the worst things done in the name of religion.

I love Bill Maher, generally, but this is what he just doesn't get, and what you apparently don't get: It's not "religion" that causes these things; it's depraved human nature using religion as an excuse to commit various crimes and atrocities under its banner. If it weren't this excuse, it would be another, and if you think banishing religion will end this sort of thing, you are seriously deluding yourselves. There is not a society in history, religious or not, that hasn't been primitive enough at one point or another to commit such horrible acts. Blaming it on religion is missing the point entirely.

[GreenT2]

Expressing outrage at this type of unforgivable barbarism is appropriate. Expressing hope that it will be reduced due to a new administration is, unfortunately, not realistic. Purging the world of evil is an unattainable goal for any president.

[blondecuban]

My heart aches every time I ponder the atrocities committed around the globe. I consider myself fortunate to have been born in this country.

[jessbg]

I read this story about the heinous events in Mogadishu in the New York Times the day after the election. In the midst of my hope and will for change, it was a quick reality check, reminding me how far we have to go on a global level.

[BVButler]

Are we gays next?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Ouch.

[MagisterLudi]

You are, if you move to Iran.

[fishgirl26]

If you are a woman in this country, you are one of the luckiest women in the world. I find these stories horrifying. Many in Islamic culture believe that this is justified but to be very clear, MOST DON'T.

[mjc]

Always enjoy your blogs, Mr. Daou, and try to respond to them but the "moderation" on these threads apparently has hidden arguments for not posting my particular responses; there is a party line which can't be breached. One of the great religious leaders of all time, named God's son, Jesus, preached vigorously against stoning and violence against adulterers. Something like "those without sin cast the first stone" came out of that. But maybe God made some sort of miscalculation of which era to send His Son; perhaps waiting until the 21st Century would have made more sense. Stoning and violence against women, not against the men involved, considered adulterers continues, especially in societies which are still agricultural or non industrial and have a patriarchal social structure. That leaves large swaths of Africa untouched by any message of compassion or forgiveness and of course women are the primary sufferers from that lack.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Well said.
Against Prop 8?

[mjc]

From my point of view, can't see Jesus as anti gay and perhaps because of the same concept that we are all sinners in some form or another. The sins so thundered against in the Old Testament such as sodomy and adultery don't get as much of Jesus' attention as those sins which all we seem to fall into, lying, hypocrisy, pomposity. What Jewish society considered more noteworthy was not what Jesus seemed to believe was keeping man from his God. Greeks and Romans had a more vague concept of God's interceding in human interactions with one another. Maybe that is the influence I am seeing. Forgiveness is something every society seems adverse to dispensing.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Being gay is a sin, but you're forgiving?
Can't say the same of most other similarly well-versed religiousniks.

[johnsopinion]

I like this:
"But maybe God made some sort of miscalcula­tion..."
So typical of humans, we love to judge God. Sorta puts his position within reach, doesn't it?
Maybe a merger instead of a take-over.

"perhaps waiting until the 21st Century would have made more sense.."
Actually, God has already sent his representative again, but this time around it was in the form of a female. And she managed to reach the age of 13 before being "crucified­." Do you think God will try again?

'Stoning and violence against women... especially in societies which ...have a patriarchal social structure.­.."
Sir, you have described just about every "civilized" society on the planet. Look around.

[bliss0027]

i'm sorry but I must take offense to the last line of your post - that large swaths of Africa has been untouched by any message of compassion or forgivenes­s.........­how ethnocentric and ignorant you must be........­...compass­ion is a human emotion experienced by all people of all religions, nationalities, and ethnic groups, and to suggest that Africans are incapable of feeling compassion because they have not heard the word of Jesus is ridiculous.

The ongoing problems in Africa: poverty, famine, AIDS, war have taken their psychological toll on some people - and then somewhat recently Islam began spreading like wildfire. There are certain aspects of Islam that were particularly appealing to these populations, for ex. Jihad, a holy war against those oppressing you, a war backed by god - it is understandable why these ideologies made a big impact against tired, abused, and deperately poor people

Perhaps you can use some of that compassion that Jesus taught you, to better better understand the absolute horrible conditions some of these people live in and why some of them turn to radical islam

[mjc]

First, you read my response the way you want to and conclude what you want to conclude. Try really reading the response. Ethnocentric???? You love using that word but you really do not understand it I think. Do you really think that stoning WOMEN for what is considered adultery is widespread in say, America, or France or Russia? There is no lack of compassion in most societies but that doesn't guarantee tolerance or forgiveness in areas where men have the only real social power.

[MagisterLudi]

The Islamic militia cooperating with Al Qaeda network is responsible for this atrocity.

Taliban isn't much different.

Iranian mullahs regularly do very similar things.

Read this BBC article about the execution of a 16 year girl for adultery in Iran.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5217424.stm

The main culprit: implementation of Islamic Sharia laws.

[chaos4700]

Yes, yes... go on and tell us how they're going to start stoning people in England because the UK is accommodating certain aspects of Sharia Law. "Those crazy Europeans! They never do things right like us Americans!"

I have severe issues with Sharia law -- there are many aspects that, implemented literally, are medieval. But the same sort of stuff appears in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible -- and there are orthodox branches of either of those religions that sincerely believe those laws should stand as written.

Stop trying to couch your racism in rationality and facts. We can still see you for what you really are.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Disagreed.

When was the last time a Jew or Christian stoned a 13-year old rape victim to death?

[editorjuno]

Jews and Christians generally live in countries were religion is constrained by secular authority -- there are definitely extremist sects in both who believe in strict literal application of scripture as law, and that includes such atrocities as stoning and slavery.

This underlines that the real danger here is theocracy, not any particular religious tradition per se. Remember, the Biblical account of the Israelites acquiring the "promised land" of ancient Canaan condones genocide as long as "God" has picked a side -- and that scripture is held in common by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

[MagisterLudi]

Very good post, editorJuno.
Addendum:Theocracy IS the problem. In any modern society.
And right now THE problem is the Islamic theocracy. Because almost everywhere else on Earth theocracy has been defeated ( with some exceptions, of course).
This problem is further exacerbated by the infiltration (neo- Colombian Exchange) of Islamic dogma into non-theocratic societies via modern communication, age of jet travel and frankly, steep birth rates.
While Western ideas will ultimately prevail, some effort must be taken to limit the spread of theocracy. Especially, this applies to the crown jewels--European humanist democracies.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Yeah but... my point remains. Wha, you gots ta go back 5,000 years for your counterpoint? Feh.

Whether or not the Somali stoning was condoned by the government, theocratic or not, ain't my point.

e.g., There are honor killings in non-muslim India, opposed by the government.

[Furby]

Disagree with your statement. Saying that everybody does it doesn't make it acceptable. Stop trying to couch resistance to barbaric practices in racism. Those who oppose the stoning practice are not racists, they're just ordinary people who denounce brutality of any kind towards people. If Sharia law promotes these practices, then we're talking facts, not racism.

[MagisterLudi]

"Stop trying to couch your raci sm in rationality and facts"

This is the most astonishing statement, entirely congruent with the worldview projected by Sharia law.
This is a teachable moment for all Westerners­....
Stop bothering us with rationality and facts. indeed. This is VERY good.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Agreed.

[roshni]

Why is there a picture of Obama on top of this story?
It is horrific and I can't imagine the lawlessness that is going on in Somalia.

[phantoma]

I can't help but draw a parallel between this horrific murder and the suicide of the troubled American idol contestant. We may not be Somalia but let's not pretend we have the moral authority to tell other nations what to do when we accept public humiliation of clearly troubled individuals on national television and expose our children to the moral and cultural plague that is reality television. American Idol is our Colloseum, our Somali arena.

[firstfreeze]

A 30 year old overdosing on drugs is not the same as a 13 year old gettong stoned to death. Most Americans are victims of their own self-pity, vanity, and indulgence. Most 13 year old Somali girls have few choices. NO one forces and American Idol contestant into the arena of competition. Sory someone died, but c'mon get real

[phantoma]

Getting real also involves understanding that people with psychological problems do not have the same means to make rational decisions and are likely to expose themselves to situations that can worsen their mental state. I was drawing a parallel between the public nature of the girl's execution -not the actual sentencing and execution- and the public nature of AI-style humiliation of human beings who are so troubled they can't willingly submit themselves to it. Your statement of "sorry someone died" strikes me as cynical. So does the AI produceres' refusal to comment on this woman's suicide.

[mkjohn1]

I think American Idol's stupid and all, but did you just compare a suicide to the stoning of a rape victim!?!

[phantoma]

Again: I compared the public nature of the execution with the public nature of the humiliation of clearly disturbed people on national television (read more in my response to another poster below).
I think that if we as a society are to declare our moral superiority over other societies as some posters have done here we need to abolish culturally abhorrent phenomena in our own societies first. The degree of abhorrence is somewhat irrelevant and this is why in my opinion. "Civilized societies" don't draw pleasure from watching troubled people sing badly on a public forum. My point is that this staring-at­-a-car-cra­sh effect is an undeniable aspect of human nature that we must strive to supress. In a different historical period and under different circumstances this could take the form of something much more horrific, as it has in the past. (Lynching in ths Gallant South, anybody?) Ask yourself: how long before the viewers become the executioners? Isn't that at the heart of the AI voting system?
In any case, I wasn't trying to be provocativeI I was merely expressing my disgust with the news on both sides.

[bobbyperu]

The last I heard was that people voluntarily went on American Idol with the possibility of being humiliated. I don't believe that 13 year old girl volunteered to be stoned. I don't think much of our reality TV society, but this is a real bad analogy.

[Furby]

Perhaps the parallel between suicide and execution are not appropriate, but I do agree that small minded and bitter people take morbid pleasure in seeing others fail in rather spectacular and public ways. Idol's public "verbal floggings" are barbaric and bring out the basest side of our voyeuristic nature. The only attraction of a reality show is the possibility of witnessing public humiliation in some form. Not a pretty message for kids.

[MagisterLudi]

NEW! Coming to the Middle Eastern TVs near you: American Infidel.

[dzcrayton]

Are you really comparing the "cultural plague that is reality television" to being stoned in a stadium by 1000 onlookers? I agree with you that we do not have moral authority to tell other nations what to do. But why is it when horrific things happen in other counties people like you are so self centered that they immediately compare it to something happening in America? Why can't this simply be a crime against humanity?

[VikingQuest]

This new administration cannot stop this from happening half way across the world.

Let me know wwhen we can secure our own borders then we'll talk about others.

[firstfreeze]

The first Euro-Afric­an-America­n Pres can call on one of his continents of origin to stop this barbarism (it happens in many African countries). Also he could ask Miniter Farrakhn to go as a special envoy to speak to African Muslims on this. That would really be a chance for Minister Farrakhan to do something positive in his latter days.

[editorjuno]

Even assuming if deputizing said "minister" was politically tenable (it isn't), most orthodox Muslim clerics consider America's "Black Muslim" sect to be a heresy.

[grizhead63]

Mr. President, tear down that wall!

[smed]

As a society - we should try to stop this terror! Peter, thank you for posting this article.

VikingQuest - I think we can do both.

[CactusTom]

If it was not God’s will, it would not have happened. You know, that everything has a purpose crap. Or what I call outrageous wishful thinking in the face of horrific contradiction. Unless of course you don’t believe in a loving God, which at least in human terms might then make some sense.

[Dystopic]

Solution?>

an airborne sterilization agent that will chemically sterilize entire populations.

[MagisterLudi]

Ah, the joys of Sharia Court. About to become lawful in U.K. Luckily banned in some parts of Canada.

[chaos4700]

The girl was taken hostage by insurgents, stoned to death in front of a crowd of horrified people who were held at bay by gunman, and you think this is part of someone's legal system? Nobody's really interested in your half-baked Islamophobia, I'm sorry to say.

[MagisterLudi]

Yes, using direct interpretation of Sharia Law. EXACT laws that are used for similar type of atrocities in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Gaza and Taliban controlled area and may other places . Deal with reality, if you can.

[chaos4700]

Sharia law is being done in Gaza? That's not what I've heard and I've read up on people who have been there. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (in places) and in Taliban controlled areas, yes. Can you make even one single comment without one really glaring inaccuracy?

[MagisterLudi]

The Hamas administration's Legal Advice and Legislation Office in the Gaza Strip announced that it was drafting penal codes according to the “noble Islamic religious law”. In a press release dated November 5 and published in the Hamas mouthpiece Felesteen (November 6), the office said that the bill included penal codes based on Quranic laws.
The will be submitted to the administration which will order the Hamas-controlled Legislative Council to approve it in accordance with legislative procedures (Felesteen, November 9)

[chaos4700]

A) "Based on Quranic law" is not the same as Sharia law.
B) "will be submitted" means nothing of this sort is happening /yet/.

I attempted to verify the veracity of your claim but I don't know enough Arabic to navigate the web site. And frankly, I'm not going to assume you do, either.

[firstfreeze]

Didn't vote for Obama but agree it would be great if civilized world could help stop this barbarism. Not sure why some posters to your blog article here thinks this has anything to do with Bush (who freed many women in Afghanistsan and has helped the plight of women in Iraq (no more Saddam rape rooms). I am not an "onlin activist" like you, but have spent 20 plus years in active mil service on
the "front line" of some of the world's real crappy places with cultures like the one in Somalia. If the life of women in these countris isn' valued in the culture, then no amount of education will help. We have a lot of culture here in the US that has made millions of songs calling women "bitches" and "hos"and making videos treating their rears like ATM machines. May offend some, but you have seen it. Would be great if our (and he is mine too) President would used the bully pulpit to denounce these cultural beliefs in all forms and return donations from rap stars and African countries. Of course if life isn't valued in the womb, it won;t be caued later either. Pusnihment to all who do violence against women.

[boophus]

Posting your NO choice BS is not about helping females. No Choice is about slavery, NO choice is about women as walking wombs who have no right to say who uses thier body whether it is a cell, an embryo, a family member, a passing male, a gang. The only part that NO choice leaves out is the stoning of females. No Choice is about males and thier right to force reproduction and is the cornerstone of a male dominated society where females are punished for not protecting thier male ownership.

Spare me Bush didn't care about Afghani women or Somalians or ...until it was politically advantageous. The republicans have propped up regimes that abuse women for decades. It is just like the claim to moral high ground on the issue of abortion . It is especially revealing that rape and incest is highest in the areas of the country where they want to ban abortion.
This is about some claim to a right to control female reproduction and sexuality not about whether a woman is allowed to choose her own postion on the issues of morality and the use of her body.

Convince them it is moral but once you take the choice from them it becomes a matter of reclaiming it because that taking of thier choice feels like rape.

[Df7702]

In your mind a song is equal to raping and stoning a 13 year old girl to death . Also the women in the videos are there because they chose to be there they get paid . You also didnt mention any Rock videos huh I wonder why . I also detect a little sarcasm by the "onlin activist " comment . For the record alot of posters here have served in the military myself included . So your Blame the rap stars meme is BS . Like youve listened to "Rap" . I really could care less about rap stars but if you voted for McCain it was probably because Obama was a socialist right .Would taking money from rap stars be spreading around the wealth.

[MamaBird62]

Barbaric practices directed against Muslims have a lot to do with Commander in Chief Bush. I'm sure you are familiar with the systemic abuse and torture of prisoners in Iraq by our soldiers and others under US control there. We may have closed Saddam's rape rooms, but they reopened under new management.