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Tue, Sept 06, 2011 | Al-Arabiya News | Edited by Crethi Plethi

Al-Shabaab, which members are recognizable because almost all of their insurgents wear bright red keffiyehs and dark green uniforms, has been waging an insurgency since 2007 against the Somali government in a bid to impose its own strict version of Sharia law.

Al-Shabaab Movement imposes strict form of Sharia Law across Somalia

The hard-line Islamist group al-Shabaab is imposing Islamic Law on the outskirts of Mogadishu and across Somalia. According to a news report in Al-Arabiya today, al-Shabaab has ordered businesses and shop vendors on the outskirts of the capital to remove English and Somali posters and replace them with billboards in Arabic.

This latest edict — which was announced from loudspeakers perched on cars — is a sign al-Shabaab is stamping their own strict laws on areas they still control, after withdrawing from the heart of Mogadishu early last month.

Residents of camp settlements at Kilometer 13, Elasha, Lafole and Afgoy on the outskirts of Mogadishu said the rebels, who have banned musical ringtones, movies and dancing at weddings just as the Taliban did in Afghanistan from September 1996 until 2001, warned residents they could face an Islamic court if they fail to comply within a month:

“They already started tearing down the main shop signs last night after they imposed a curfew in the town. They ordered us to change signs into Arabic, which can’t be understood by the people, since most understand either Somali or English,” Abdi Jamal, a businessman in Kilometer 13 told Reuters.

“In fact, it is not logical even according to Islam and will have an impact on the smooth running of our business activity. Even worse, they also ordered us not to go to Bakara Market for business,” he said, referring to the capital’s main market which was al Shabaab’s base before its fighters retreated.

No Al-Shabaab officials were prepared to comment on this issue.

The Somali Islamist Al-Shabaab movement (Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen) has been waging an insurgency since 2007 against the Western-backed government of Somalia in a bid to impose its own strict form of Sharia law across the anarchic Horn of Africa nation. As of 2011, the group controls large swathes of the southern and central parts of Somalia and was camped in the capital until its fighters pulled back in August, claiming it was a tactical move.

Somalia has been going through cycles of violence with no effective central government since the overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

According to the report, camp residents said the militants had forced people to pay an annual Islamic donation in advance, which could be a sign the al-Qaeda-affiliated group may be facing a funding shortage.

“Al-Shabaab has taken zakaat (donation) from all business owners this week, but it is the wrong time,” shopkeeper Ali Dicisow told Reuters from Elasha.

“They have taken 2.5 percent of our cash and of the value of our stock. We had to give the exact amount required because anyone who miscalculated his wealth would risk al-Shabaab taking away half of it. This week, we unwillingly paid next year’s Zakaat in advance,” he said.

Residents also described an atmosphere of fear since al-Shabaab cemented their rule on the camp towns after they withdrew from Mogadishu.

“No two people can talk together in the streets. We mention al-Shabaab’s name in whispers and only in houses. Women who go out just to pour dirty water are grabbed and jailed if they do not have the heavy veils,” resident Osman Qeyley told Reuters from Lafole town.

“We have no hope at all. All al Shabaab leaders are here with their fighters and the government has no power to reach us. We know al-Shabaab will not allow us to move to Mogadishu if the government approaches here,” he said.