Security forces in Kismayo have launched a controversial operation against the Islamic face veil known as the niqab. The city’s police chief, Warsame Ahmed Gelle, announced that hundreds of niqabs have been seized from women in the streets.
Authorities claim this crackdown is necessary to thwart potential terrorist activities. Mr. Gelle stated that jihadists could use the veils to hide their identities while planning attacks. The operation began last Wednesday and has gained momentum since then.
Al-Shabab, an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda, controls significant areas in southern and central Somalia. They have been engaged in a brutal insurgency for nearly two decades against the UN-backed government.
On Friday, the group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack at a beachfront venue in Mogadishu, resulting in at least 37 deaths and numerous injuries. Eyewitnesses and Al-Shabab suggest that the actual casualty numbers are even higher.
In Kismayo, police officers have stopped women in the streets, demanding they remove their veils. Those caught wearing the niqab face fines or jail time.
This strict enforcement is unique to Kismayo, as the city and its surroundings are the only regions in Jubaland where the ban can be effectively implemented.
The Somali government first introduced the niqab ban in 2013, citing security risks, yet it was rarely enforced until now. The niqab is viewed by many as a sign of modesty within Islam, a religion followed by nearly the entire population of Somalia.
While some women are increasingly choosing the niqab, many still prefer the hijab, which covers the hair but leaves the face exposed.
