COI-Report-Somalia

EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central Somalia — Country overview — 103
acceptance varies depending on whether the marriage occurs between a man from a majority clan and a minority
woman (which sometimes happens without major problems ( 1064 )); and a woman from a majority clan marrying
a minority man, which is socially unacceptable. Children born out of these marriages will become minority group
members and will therefore be ‘lost’ for the majority clan. The woman will be excluded from her own family and
clan ( 1065 ). Furthermore, by marrying a minority woman, a majority clan man will lose protection by his own clan ( 1066 ).
Children born from a marriage between a majority man and a minority woman will get the father’s clan identity ( 1067 ).
4.3.1.5 Women from minority groups
Minority women face multiple discriminations and violations of their rights - as women and as members of a minority
group. Minority women, especially in IDP camps, often suffer gender‐based violence (rape), domestic violence,
robbery and economic discrimination. Crimes against women, especially amongst women from minority groups,
are often perpetrated with impunity ( 1068 ). Read more about the general situation of women under 4.4.1.
4.3.2 Religious minorities
Religious minorities include a very small population of Somali Christians, as well as ethnic minorities within Islam –
Ashraf and Sheikhal. Al‐Shabaab, based on its strict interpretation of Islam, is targeting those who follow (Sufi)
Somali‐Islamic, Christian or traditional African (Bantu/Jareer) religious beliefs and practices. Benadiri, Bantu and
Christian minorities are targets of religious persecution by Al‐Shabaab ( 1069 ). There have been several killings of
suspected Christians in 2012 and 2013 in Al‐Shabaab controlled areas ( 1070 ).
The Ashraf and Sheikhal are usually respected and protected as moderate religious leaders by clans with whom they
live. The Sheikhal are closely associated with the Hawiye/Hirab clan (see also section 2.2.1). The Digil/Mirifle Ashraf
might be targeted by Al‐Shabaab ‘partly because the latter do not recognise the religious status of the Asharaf, and
partly because they oppose the Shariff Hassan who was the driving force in the 2008 Djibouti agreement together
with President Sheikh Shariff’ ( 1071 ). In 2012, mosques whose clerics refused to call for fighting against the FGS and
AMISOM were closed by Al‐Shabaab. According to the US Department of State, there were no reports of violations
of religious freedom by TFG or FGS in 2012 ( 1072 ). No reports were found about recent human rights violations of
the Sheikhal and Ashraf.
( 1064 ) Tiwald, A., Die Parias Somalias: Ständische Berufskasten als Basis sozialer Diskriminierung, Österreichischer Integrationsfonds, December 2010 (http://www.
integrationsfonds.at/laenderinformation/diepariassomalias) accessed 10 June 2014, p. 31.
( 1065 ) IRB Canada, Somalia: Distinguishing characteristics of the Gabooye (Midgan) people; whether it is possible for a member of the minority clan living in
Mogadishu to hide that they are part of the Gabooye from his or her spouse and in‐laws, who are members of a majority clan, 7 October 2013 (http://www.
cisr‐irb.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspxdoc=454822&pls=1) accessed 20 May 2014; Landinfo, Respons Somalia: Yrkes- od lavstatusgrupper,
25 July 2013 (http://landinfo.no/asset/2460/1/2460_1.pdf) accessed 10 June 2014, p. 3.
( 1066 ) I Lewis, I.M., Peoples of the Horn of Africa, Somali, Afar and Saho, Red Sea Press, 1998, p. 52; ACCORD, Clans in Somalia. Report on a Lecture by Joakim
Gundel, December 2009 (http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/90_1261130976_accord‐report‐clans‐in‐somalia‐revised‐edition-20091215.pdf) accessed
10 June 2014, note 19.
( 1067 ) IRB Canada, Somalia: Distinguishing characteristics of the Gabooye (Midgan) people; whether it is possible for a member of the minority clan living in
Mogadishu to hide that they are part of the Gabooye from his or her spouse and in‐laws, who are members of a majority clan, 7 October 2013 (http://www.
cisr‐irb.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspxdoc=454822&pls=1) accessed 20 May 2014; Pérouse de Montclos, M.-A., Exodus and reconstruction of
identities: Somali ‘minority refugees’ in Mombasa, 1999 (http://www.observatoire‐humanitaire.org/etudes/Som_minorite_GB.pdf) accessed 20 May 2014,
p. 18; I Lewis, I.M., Peoples of the Horn of Africa, Somali, Afar and Saho, Red Sea Press, 1998, p. 52.
( 1068 ) Minority Rights Group International, No redress: Somalia’s forgotten minorities, 31 January 2010 (http://www.minorityrights.org/lid=10370) accessed
10 June 2014, p. 15; Landinfo/Udlændingsstyrelsen, Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South‐Central Somalia, March 2014 (http://
landinfo.no/asset/2837/1/2837_1.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 20.
( 1069 ) Minority Rights Group International, No redress: Somalia’s forgotten minorities, 31 January 2010 (http://www.minorityrights.org/lid=10370) accessed
10 June 2014, p. 13.
( 1070 ) See Persecution - Somalia (www.persecution.org/category/countries/africa/somalia) accessed 20 May 2014; US Department of State, International Religious
Freedom Report for 2012 – Somalia, 20 May 2013 http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htmdlid=208194&year=2012 (accessed
22 May 2014)
( 1071 ) ACCORD, Clans in Somalia. Report on a Lecture by Joakim Gundel, December 2009 (http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/90_1261130976_
accord‐report‐clans‐in‐somalia‐revised‐edition-20091215.pdf) accessed 10 June 2014, p. 18-20.
( 1072 ) US Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report for 2012 – Somalia, 20 May 2013 http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.
htmdlid=208194&year=2012 (accesed 22 May 2014)