Friday October 7, 2022
Mogadishu (HOL) - A former soldier was executed on Friday, just days after a military court in Mogadishu found him guilty of killing his commander.
Abdinasir Daud Sheikh Hassan, a soldier with the SNA 59th Army Transport Division, was shot dead by a firing squad at Mogadishu's police academy after being convicted of murdering his superior officer Abdi Mohamed Ahmed, who was known as Hurdaye (Sleepy).
The firing squad was witnessed by military court officials, soldiers, and at least some relatives of the victim.
During a court hearing on September 29, Abdinasir confessed to killing Hurdaye and injuring two other civilians. He claimed that he murdered his commander over a salary dispute.
One lawmaker expressed concern that Abdinasir Daud was not given due process because of the speed with which he was arrested, tried, and executed.
"The entire process of executing this young officer took one week, including his arrest, investigation, trial and execution. He was found guilty of murdering another officer. No appeal was allowed. His family wasn't told when he was executed or even where he was buried. Somalia Military Court?" said Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, an MP and former government spokesperson.
In Somalia, capital punishment is legal, and those sentenced to death - typically by a military court - are usually executed by firing squad. However, Somali legal experts and human rights defenders have urged authorities to make military court proceedings more accessible and transparent to ensure that no one is killed based on shaky evidence.