COI-Report-Somalia

106 — EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central Somalia — Country overview
4.3.5 Returnees from Western countries
According to the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Somalis returning from Western countries may be suspected
of spying for the SFG or SFG‐allied troops. They usually try to avoid going back to Al‐Shabaab‐controlled areas, even
when their clan lives in that area ( 1096 ). Somalis returning from the Diaspora can be at risk of targeted attacks by
Al‐Shabaab, especially ‘those who are visible and do not blend in’ ( 1097 ).
UNHCR states: ‘it is very difficult to survive without a support network in Mogadishu. For newcomers to the city,
particularly when they do not belong to the clans or nuclear families established in the district in question, or when
they originate from an area formerly or presently controlled by an insurgent group, face a precarious existence in
the capital. Somalis from the diaspora who have returned to Mogadishu in the course of 2013 are reported to belong
to the more affluent sectors of society, with resources and economic and political connections. Many are reported
to have a residence status abroad to fall back on in case of need.’ ( 1098 )
4.3.6 Residents in Al‐Shabaab‐controlled areas
The human rights situation in Al‐Shabaab territory has gradually deteriorated. Analysts observed that, in areas where
Al‐Shabaab has relatively uncontested control over its territory, there are relatively few reports of targeted violence
against civilians. In areas where the group is under strain, or does not have full control, an increase in the number
of arrests, detention and executions of non‐combatants for alleged spying, as well as increased general levels of
violence, are reported within the territory under Al‐Shabaab’s control ( 1099 ).
Al‐Shabaab imposes a strict and harsh interpretation of Sharia law in areas under its control, which prohibits the
exercise of several forms of human rights, such as freedom of speech, expression, movement, assembly, and
religion ( 1100 ).
Many rules affect women in particular, such as those ordering them to wear heavy veils, prohibiting them from
wearing bras (bras show bodily forms), forbidding them to work and travel together with non‐related men, speaking
and shaking hands with men without a male relative being present ( 1101 ). Men have to wear beards and trousers
showing their ankles and cannot wear jeans or moustaches ( 1102 ).
In November 2013, Al‐Shabaab deprived an entire region of television by seizing satellite dishes, arguing that these
transmitted images that did not respect Islam. Al‐Shabaab also banned internet and the use of smart phones with
internet ( 1103 ) and cameras ( 1104 ), for fear of spying. Earlier, Al‐Shabaab had forbid residents under their control to
listen to international media broadcasts. Activities such as (watching and playing) football and singing are forbidden
as well ( 1105 ). Listening to music and watching TV, which are considered‘unislamic’, are also not permitted ( 1106 ). Only
radio programmes provided by Al‐Shabaab are allowed. In addition, the sale and use of cigarettes and khat are
forbidden. Gatherings without prior consent by Al‐Shabaab are not allowed ( 1107 ).
( 1096 ) Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (The Netherlands), Algemeen ambtsbericht Somalië, 19 December 2013 (http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/bestanden/
documenten‐en‐publicaties/ambtsberichten/2013/12/19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie-2013-12-19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie‐december-2013.
pdf) accessed 27 May 2014, p. 19.
( 1097 ) 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. 31.
( 1098 ) UNHCR, International Protection Considerations with Regard to people fleeing Southern and Central Somalia, 17 January 2014 (http://www.refworld.org/
docid/52d7fc5f4.html) accessed 15 May 2014, p. 9.
( 1099 ) Armed Conflict Location & Event Dataset (ACLED), Country Report: Somalia, April 2013 (http://www.acleddata.com/wp‐content/uploads/2013/04/
ACLED‐Country‐Report_Somalia_April-2013.pdf) accessed 28 May 2014; Lifos, Säkerhetssituationen i södra och centrala Somalia, Rapport från utredningsresa
till Nairobi, Kenya i oktober 2013, 20 January 2014 (http://lifos.migrationsverket.se/dokumentdocumentAttachmentId=40524) accessed 22 June 2014, p. 7-8.
( 1100 ) UNHCR, International Protection Considerations with Regard to people fleeing Southern and Central Somalia, 17 January 2014 (http://www.refworld.org/
docid/52d7fc5f4.html) accessed 28 May 2014. See also para. 3.5.10.
( 1101 ) Reuters, Somali women say Islamists becoming more draconian, 15 January 2011 (http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/01/15/idINIndia-54179120110115)
accessed 28 May 2014.
( 1102 ) Reuters, Somali Islamist rebels force men to grow beards, 19 December 2009 (http://af.reuters.com/article/idAFJOE5BI07O20091219) accessed 28 May 2014.
( 1103 ) Al Jazeera, Al‐Shabab bans internet in Somalia, 9 January 2014 (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/01/al‐shabab‐bans‐ internetsomalia‐
20141981213614575.html) accessed 19 May 2014; Sabahionline, Somalia: Al‐Shabaab says smartphones used ‘to spy on `Muslim people’,
14 november 2013 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/features/2013/11/14/feature-01) accessed 28 May 2014.
( 1104 ) Sabahionline, Somalia: Al‐Shabaab Confiscates Camera‐Equipped Mobile Phones in Barawe, 18 March 2014 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/
articles/features/2014/03/18/feature-01) accessed 20 June 2014.
( 1105 ) US Department of State, Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2013 - Somalia, 27 February 2014 (http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/
humanrightsreport/index.htmyear=2013&dlid=220158) accessed 23 May 2014.
( 1106 ) Reporters without Borders, World Press Freedom Index 2014, s.d. (http://rsf.org/index2014/data/index2014_en.pdf) accessed 22 May 2014.
( 1107 ) US Department of State, Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2013 - Somalia, 27 February 2014 (http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/
humanrightsreport/index.htmyear=2013&dlid=220158) accessed 23 May 2014.