Male adulterer stoned to death
2009-12-13 17:04
Mogadishu - Somalia's hardline rebel group Hezb al-Islam executed two men on Sunday in front of hundreds of residents in the district of Afgoye, officials and witnesses said.
Mohamed Abukar Ibrahim, 48, accused of adultery, was stoned to death by dozens of militants from the rebel group and Ahmed Mohamoud Awale, 61, was executed by firing squad for murder.
It was the first time Hezb al-Islam rebels had carried out such executions - usually their al-Qaeda-inspired allies the Shebab order amputations, executions and stonings in the name of Sharia law.
"He was screaming, blood was coming from his head and his body", Adan Nurkey who witnessed the stoning told AFP, "he died very quickly after being hit by a big stone", another witness, Mohamud Ashur said.
The 15-year-old girl with whom the man was accused of having a sexual relations received a hundred lashes - she escaped the death penalty because she was not married at the time.
Ahmed Mohamoud Awale was shot by a close relative of the man he was accused of stabbing to death, according to another witness, Abdulkarim Yusuf Bile.
Hezb al-Islam and their Shebab allies have waged a relentless guerrilla war against Somalia's transitional government since May.
- SAPA