In Somalia’s southern city of Kismayo, security forces have confiscated hundreds of Islamic face veils, known as niqabs, from female residents.
This action, according to the city’s police chief, Warsame Ahmed Gelle, is part of ongoing operations aimed at combating the potential use of niqabs by jihadists to conceal their identities and carry out attacks.
The crackdown follows a devastating attack on Friday in Mogadishu, the capital, where dozens were killed at a popular beachfront location. Large areas of southern and central Somalia remain under the control of al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group that has led a brutal insurgency against the UN-backed government for nearly 20 years.
Since last Wednesday, officers in Kismayo have been stopping women on the streets and forcing them to remove their niqabs. Those caught wearing the garment face fines or jail time. Kismayo and its surrounding areas in Jubaland are among the few places where authorities can enforce the ban, initially introduced in 2013 due to security concerns but rarely enforced until now.
The niqab, covering the entire face except for the eyes, is considered a sign of modesty in Islam. Although it has gained popularity in recent times, most Somali women still prefer the hijab, which covers only the hair. According to government statistics, 99% of Somalia’s population practices Islam.
In response to recent military actions by Somali forces, which resulted in the deaths of several jihadist fighters in Jubaland, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the Mogadishu attack and reported higher casualties than the official police figures. The threat of further reprisals remains high.
