Women in Somalia are in an uproar over the plans by the Deputy Speaker of the House of the People (Lower House) to support the Sexual Offenses Bill (SOB).
First Deputy Speaker Sadia Yasin Samatar has spoken about the bill in recent times.
According to the women who spoke to the media, the bill contradicts the Islamic religion and the culture by which Somalis lead their lives.
In their view, Islam already guarantees gender equality while promoting women’s rights in all spheres of life.
A week ago, Samatar distanced herself from claims that she supports the bill, which has also been nicknamed the Sexual Intercourse Bill and the Penetration Bill.
Instead, Samatar said that she only wants the bill reviewed to make it compatible with Islam.
She has also called for the renaming of the bill to Sharaf-dhowr.