Saturday March 15, 2025
FILE - Puntland’s Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs, Mohamed Abdi Wahab, addresses a press conference in Garowe, Somalia, on March 15, 2025. The minister reaffirmed that women and children linked to ISIS should not be targeted in the ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Garowe (HOL) — Puntland’s Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs, Mohamed Abdi Wahab, has reiterated that women and children linked to ISIS should not be targeted, emphasizing that such actions violate Islamic principles and human rights laws.
The minister's statement comes following public debate over how Puntland authorities should handle detainees affiliated with the militant group. His remarks were in response to recent calls by a prominent Puntland cleric, who argued that captured ISIS fighters should not face execution.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Wahab stressed that Puntland security forces have not engaged in abuses against women, children, or captured ISIS members.
“There have been no recorded violations or mistreatment of ISIS prisoners, women, or children during this conflict. There is no need for further debate on this matter,” he said.
He urged the public to avoid politicizing Puntland’s fight against terrorism, warning against the use of extremist threats for political or factional gain.
ISIS Militants Will Face Justice
Wahab made it clear that active ISIS fighters remain a direct threat and will be neutralized if they resist arrest.
“ISIS are foreign-led extremists who have invaded our land, shed the blood of our people, and looted their wealth. They have no legitimacy. Islam commands us to defend ourselves and eliminate them on the battlefield or wherever they hide,” he stated.
The minister clarified that captured militants will be brought to trial and could face execution, hanging, or other legally prescribed punishments depending on the severity of their crimes. He also warned that any ISIS member attempting a suicide attack would be neutralized without hesitation.
Wahab’s remarks follow controversy sparked by a prominent cleric who recently stated that detained ISIS fighters should not face capital punishment. The debate has triggered discussions on Puntland’s legal and ethical approach to dealing with terrorism suspects.
Puntland has been engaged in long-running military operations against ISIS-affiliated fighters in the mountainous Bari region, where the group has established a foothold.