Somalia court postpones teenager's gang rape and murder case

GAROWE, Puntland – A regional court in northeastern Somalia has announced Saturday the postponement of much-awaited teenager's gang-rape case, Garowe Online reports.

Ten people, including young defendants, were arraigned in Nugal region’s first-degree court in Garowe, the capital of Puntland to face charges of raping and murdering 12-year-old in Galkayo city last February.

The court’s chief judge said three out of the ten have been found guilty and adjourned the case for the remaining until next Saturday, May 12 following a request from the lawyers defending the alleged rapists.

Aisha Ilyas Aden went missing after she was abducted at a market in the divided town which is notorious for rapes and clashes between troops belong to the rival Somali Federal State.

After barely 48 hours of missing, Aden’s body was found dumped outside her home on February 25. The tragic episode has prompted massive protests in the streets in Puntland and outrage on social media.

An autopsy has revealed she had been gang-raped and her genitals mutilated before she was strangled to death, according to Puntland security agencies who worked tirelessly to bring the culprits to book.

Members of the public, Aden’s family and officials from Puntland government, including minister of Justice, have attended the court hearing together for the first time.

Meanwhile, Puntland state president H.E Said Abdullahi Deni vowed a "severe punishment" for the perpetrators of the inhume and heinous act to end the sexual harassment in the region.

The gender-based violence including rape and other abuses against women and young girls is widespread in Somalia, a long-chaotic nation in the Horn of Africa that has been beset by two decades of conflict.

This is due to a lack of properly functioning judicial system, and the use of traditional ways of solving murder and rape case as well as the disputes in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE