February 3, 2026
SUNTV Global Channel | News
A Somali court has executed a 34-year-old woman, Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, by firing squad after she was found guilty of brutally beating a teenage domestic worker to death in Galkayo, central Somalia.
Officials said the execution was carried out under qisas, an Islamic legal principle that allows the family of a murder victim to demand the death penalty instead of accepting financial compensation. Authorities in Mudug region, where the crime occurred, enforce Islamic law in such cases.
The victim, teenage girl Saabirin Saylaan, died after enduring months of severe physical abuse while working as a domestic helper in Diiriye’s household. Her death in November sparked widespread outrage and protests across Galkayo, reigniting national debate over child protection and domestic worker abuse.
Mudug State Governor, Faysal Sheikh Ali, confirmed that members of both the victim’s family and the convicted woman’s family were present during the execution.
“This sentence was carried out in accordance with the law and the wishes of the victim’s family,” the governor said.
Authorities noted that this is the first time in more than a decade that a woman has been executed under a retaliatory sentence in Puntland. The last known case occurred in 2013, when several al-Shabab members, including one woman, were executed for the killing of a prominent Islamic scholar.
Investigations revealed that Saabirin was orphaned at just one year old after losing both parents. She initially lived with relatives before her great-aunt agreed last year to allow her to work in Diiriye’s home as a domestic helper.
Police said that during the two months she lived there, Saabirin suffered routine torture and beatings. Disturbing video and audio recordings recovered from Diiriye’s phone documented repeated acts of violence, some of which were leaked to the public before the trial.
In one chilling recording, Diiriye was heard telling the girl: “I’m enjoying your pain.”
A post-mortem examination confirmed multiple injuries and deep stab wounds, consistent with prolonged and systematic abuse.
As details of the case emerged, public anger intensified. Hundreds of women and youths took to the streets of Galkayo, carrying placards reading “Justice for Saabirin” and demanding accountability.
Human rights activists, elders, and community leaders have since renewed calls for stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect children and domestic workers, who remain among the most vulnerable groups in Somalia.
