Tuesday February 13, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) - Sheikh Abdiaziz Mohamed, father of the late Luul Abdiaziz, is demanding justice for his daughter, whose life was brutally taken. Luul, a pregnant mother of six and a respected worker at Aden Adde Airport in Mogadishu, tragically died after her husband, Sayid Ali Moalin Daoud, allegedly set her on fire last month. Despite the subsequent arrest of Daoud in the Mudug region, Sheikh Abdiaziz's plea underscores a systemic failure to address and punish acts of gender-based violence in the country.
The incident, which took place in the Dharkeenley district of Mogadishu, saw Luul locked in a room and set ablaze, an act of violence that not only claimed her life but also that of her unborn child. The community's horror was palpable as neighbors, drawn by the distressing sounds of the incident, attempted a rescue, only to find Luul in critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries shortly after, leaving behind a grieving family and a nation grappling with a surge in domestic violence.
In response to the public outcry, officials, including the Mayor of Mogadishu, Yusuf Hussein Jimale Madale, have pledged support for Luul's orphaned children, while the United Nations has lauded the efforts to arrest Daoud.
At a press conference in Mogadishu, Sheikh Abdiaziz voiced his fears and frustrations, reflecting a broader societal concern over the seeming invincibility of perpetrators of gender-based violence. "The accused who took my daughter's life seems to be shielded from the consequences of his actions," he declared, emphasizing the intolerable delay in bringing Daoud to trial. The authorities handling of the case, or lack thereof, has sown seeds of distrust, with rumours circulating that the suspect, despite his arrest in the southern Mudug region, might be prematurely released.
Sheikh Abdiaziz's resolve is palpable as he refuses to lay his daughter to rest until justice prevails. "My daughter's body remains above ground, as does our hope for justice," he stated, signalling a refusal to accept anything less than a full accounting for Luul's death.
The father's demands extend beyond the immediate case, touching on systemic issues that allow such tragedies to recur with alarming frequency. He calls on the highest authority in the land, urging the president to intervene and ensure that the judicial process is swift, transparent, and just. "We are suspicious of the system's capacity to hold the guilty accountable. We need our president to act, to reassure us that our faith in justice is not misplaced," Sheikh Abdiaziz implored.