MOGADISHU, Somalia — What began as a quiet gathering in Afgooye, 30km south of Mogadishu, erupted into panic as police seized several women and hauled them away while relatives shouted their names.
By the time families reached the police station, the women had been shackled and placed inside a facility holding male detainees after criticizing the district administration — a move rights advocates say is unlawful and dangerous.
The incident has shaken Afgooye, sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of a police force long accused of using intimidation to silence dissent.
Somali MP Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu said the women were punished merely for speaking their minds. “It is deeply concerning and unacceptable that Somali women were shackled after expressing their views,” he said.
The detentions were ordered by Police chief in the town Ali Roble, whom Moalimu said has faced previous accusations of abusing women in the district.
He said, “citizens have a right to speak freely and participate in peaceful gatherings without fear or intimidation.”
Rights advocates argue the case shows a pattern of heavy-handed policing and political retaliation.
Habiba Osman said she and her relatives sprinted from one road to the next after hearing the first rumors. When they reached the station, officers refused to let them inside.
“My sister didn’t commit a crime,” she said. “She only attended a meeting where people talked openly about the problems in our district. For that, they chained her like a criminal.”
Another relative, Abdirahman Farah, said the women’s treatment reflects an atmosphere of intimidation that has deepened in recent months.
“People are afraid to speak,” he said. “If your opinion doesn’t please officials, you risk being silenced or humiliated. This is not how a community should be governed.”
Police officials were unavailable to reach on the phone to comment the allegations. Rights groups argued such actions violated Somalia’s policing standards and international norms — particularly the decision to place women in proximity to male detainees.
Moalimu urging regional authorities and Somalia’s Police Force to intervene. “No official should have the power to abuse citizens with impunity,” he said.
The families say they want justice, but also acknowledgment that the women were targeted for speaking up — a message they fear is now echoing across the community.
“We will not stay silent,” Habiba said. “If we don’t stand up now, what happened to our sisters today could happen to anyone tomorrow.”
Some names in this story have been changed to protect individuals from possible retaliation.
