Somalia

Parliament approves sharia law throughout country

Article published on the 2009-04-18 Latest update 2009-04-19 07:42 TU

Somali President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
(Photo: Reuters )

On Saturday, the Somali parliament voted unanimously to introduce Islamic sharia law throughout the country, according to parliamentary Deputy Speaker Osman Elmi Bogore.

This follows last month's approval by the Somali cabinet of a proposal to introduce sharia law. In March the Information Minister Farhan Ali Mohamoud described sharia as "the only option to get solutions for the problems in this country".

"The vote marks the end of the secular state in Somalia,' says correspondent Mohamed Sheikh Noor in Mogadishu.

"The vote was carried out by a show of hands," he says, with all MPs voting in favour, "except the President of the National Assembly who is out of the country on official business".

President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had earlier agreed to a truce with hardline opponents of the government and a demand for the introduction of sharia law.

"Al Shebab, which controls two thirds of Somalia [...] has repeated that they will continue to oppose the government, calling it 'a puppet of western interests'," says Mohammed Sheikh Noor.