Shabelle Media Network, 9 March 2009

Al-Shabab Flogs Teenagers in Mogadishu

Mogadishu -- Four Somali boys accused of raping a young girlof 18 years have been flogged in Mogadishu on Monday by al-ShababIslamists.

The flogging took place in Maslah Compound in the north of thecity where a lot of people went to watch the boys being flogged.

Sheik Abdi Haqa, a judge of al-Shabab said every boy wassentenced to hit 100 lashes because of the raping. They did notdeserve to execute because they did not become married beforeaccording to the sharia.

The boys were accused of raping the girl in Mogadishu and weresentenced to extradite from Banadir region to other regions.

Sheik Ali Mohamed Hussein one of al-Shabab leaders said thewhipping was part of the implementing of Sharia in the country.

One of the teenagers said he was happy with the verdict.