MOGADISHU, Somalia – The recent deaths of three women allegedly murdered by their husbands have sparked outrage and protests in Somalia over the country’s femicide rates. The killings, which all occurred in the first week of February, have reignited concerns about violence against women in a country already marred by decades of conflict.
In the capital city of Mogadishu, protesters have taken to the streets, holding up placards with photos of one of the victims, Lul Abdi Aziz Jazira, who suffered severe burns after being doused with petrol and set alight. Her case, along with the murders of two other women, has drawn attention to the issue of femicide and domestic violence in the country.
The suspects in all three killings have been named as the victims’ husbands. One of the victims, 28-year-old Jazira, had been a widow with six children before she met her second husband at the airport where she worked. Despite initial impressions of a happy couple, neighbors reported hearing a violent argument before Jazira was attacked.
Beyond the capital, another man has been arrested and charged with the stabbing death of his pregnant wife. Their disputes had previously been mediated through Somali customary law, but the escalating violence led to tragedy. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a woman was allegedly shot by her husband in southern Somalia.
These incidents have fueled ongoing demonstrations demanding justice for the women and criticising the lack of specific laws in Somalia against domestic violence. Activists have expressed concerns about a culture of silence and acceptance of abuse against women, as well as the need for legislative changes to better protect women from violence.