GALKAYO — Authorities in Puntland executed Hodan Mohamud on Tuesday morning following her conviction for the prolonged torture and subsequent death of a 14-year-old domestic worker, Sabirin Saylaan Abdille.
The sentence was carried out by firing squad in Galkayo in accordance with Islamic law, after the victim’s family rejected Diyo (blood money) and opted for Qisas (retributive justice).
Evidence of Abuse
Prosecutors presented evidence indicating that the teenager was subjected to continuous physical abuse while employed in Mohamud’s home.
The conviction was substantiated by disturbing digital content extracted from the defendant’s mobile device. Security officials reported that video recordings depicted “extreme and repeated violence” toward the girl, which judicial authorities determined was directly connected to her fatal injuries.
“This legal proceeding was conducted with substantial evidence and in compliance with Islamic law,” a regional judicial source stated. “The family sought justice, and the court respected that demand.”
Historical Precedent
Regional authorities indicated that this marks a rare legal event in the state’s recent history. It is reportedly the first instance in decades of a woman being executed under a retaliatory murder sentence in the area.
The most recent recorded execution of a female in Puntland occurred in 2013, involving an individual affiliated with Al-Shabaab who was convicted for the assassination of a religious scholar.
Officials explained that the sentence was applied under a specific ordinance in the Mudug region, designed to strictly enforce Islamic law in homicide cases as part of initiatives to curb violent crime in the divided city.
National Outcry on Child Labor
While officials presented the execution as a delivery of justice, the death of Sabirin has sparked a wider national discussion regarding the treatment of domestic workers, particularly minors.
Following the revelation of the crime, demonstrations spread to Garowe and other towns, with activists and community leaders denouncing the exploitation of children from impoverished households.
“Execution cannot eliminate the system that permitted this child to endure suffering in silence,” stated a local child welfare advocate. “We require legislation, implementation, and social transformation to safeguard children long before such crimes are committed.”
Puntland officials maintained that the punishment serves as a deterrent, stating that those who exploit vulnerable individuals will face the “complete authority of the law.”
