Somali Woman Executed for Murder of Teenage Worker

Authorities in Puntland, Somalia, have executed Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, convicted of murdering Saabirin Saylaan, a 14-year-old girl.

This marks a rare instance in which the death penalty has been carried out against a woman in the region.

Diiriye was shot by a firing squad on Tuesday in Galkayo after a court found her guilty of beating Saabirin to death. Saabirin had been working as a domestic helper for Diiriye’s family.

The killing in November sparked protests in Galkayo and renewed calls for greater child protection. Hundreds of women and young people marched through the city, carrying signs reading “Justice for Saabirin,”  demanding accountability.

Officials said the sentence was carried out under qisas, an Islamic legal principle that allows the family of a murder victim to demand execution instead of accepting financial compensation. 

According to the Puntland authorities, this was the first execution of a woman under a retaliatory sentence in more than a decade.

The last known case was in 2013, when a female member of the militant group al-Shabab was executed alongside 12 others for killing a prominent Islamic scholar.

Investigations revealed that Saabirin had been orphaned as a baby and was placed with Diiriye’s family by her great-aunt. 

During her two months there, she endured routine physical abuse, according to the police. 

Evidence recovered from Diiriye’s phone, including videos and audio recordings, documented repeated violence. In one recording, Diiriye was reportedly heard saying, “I’m enjoying your pain.”

A post-mortem examination confirmed multiple injuries and deep stab wounds consistent with prolonged torture. 

The case has intensified calls from activists, elders, and community leaders for stronger protections for children and domestic workers in Somalia.