From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri May 28 2010 - 09:05:24 EDT
Somali Islamist leader urges unity
By ABDULKADIR KHALIF, NATION Correspondent
Posted Thursday, May 27 2010 at 19:54
MOGADISHU, Thursday
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of Hizbu Islam, one of the radical
Islamist movements opposing the Transitional Federal Government, has called
on all Islamist groups to unite.
Sheikh Aweys stated that unity of all Islamists is a must if they are to
defeat their common enemy.
Al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam have been opposing the TFG. Their fighters have
kept up attacks on the peacekeepers serving The African Union Mission in
Somalia, Amisom.
However, the movements kept a loose alliance, but differ in their approaches
that, on many occasions, caused friction between them.
"Unity of all Islamists is a most," shouted Sheikh Aweys as he spoke at the
end of a three-day seminar in Mogadishu. "We must renounce selfishness and
superiority," he added.
In February, the former deputy leader of Hizbu Islam, Sheikh Hassan
Abdullahi Hersi alias Sheikh Hassan Turki, joined Al-Shabaab, a move which
frustrated Sheikh Aweys.
Al-Shabaab leaders were invited to the wrapping up of the workshop but
failed to show up. "It is an indication that the two movements are only
allied in the fighting against the government but differ in their
objectives," said one source who refused to be named.
Instructions to media
Meanwhile, the information office of Hizbu Islam in Afgoye town, 30 km
southwest of Mogadishu, has issued further instructions to the media.
In a decree signed by Hizbu Islam's Governor in Afgoye town, Abdikarim Musse
Omar, the office ordered all reporters to start their reporting with the
name of Allah. The Journalists are also required to present their reports to
the movement's Information office in the district for control before
dispatching them.
"Any reporter that fails to meet the terms of the order will face
punishments in accordance with the Sharia laws," warned the decree.
The order was issued as three reporters working for media houses in
Mogadishu, detained in Afgoye town by Hizbu Islammilitia on Wednesday were
released. The freed reporters denied any wrongdoings as claimed by the
Islamist authority and expressed surprise on the new orders.
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