Somali Mother pleads for her son

[Ahmed-Gurey]

Mother of pirate makes plea to Obama

The sole surviving Somali pirate from the hostage-taking of commercial ship Capt. Richard Phillips was being flown to New York late Monday, hours after his mother appealed to President Barack Obama for his release.

U.S. officials said Abduhl Wali-i-Musi was due to appear in federal court in New York.

His mother, Adar Abdirahman Hassan, said in an interview: “I appeal to President Obama to pardon my teenager; I request him to release my son or at least allow me to see him.”

– The Associated Press

[Ahmed-Gurey]

i listened to BBC Somali, the mother lives in Harardhere and wants to come to New York. lol

Pirate mother's Obama mercy plea

The mother of a teenage alleged pirate held over the hostage-taking of a US sea captain this month has appealed to US President Barack Obama to free him.

Adar Abdurahman Hassan told the BBC her son, Abde Wale Abdul Kadhir Muse, was innocent and just 16 years old.

He was held over the seizure off Somalia of Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama cargo ship.

While her son was allegedly negotiating on a US warship, naval snipers shot dead three pirates holding the captain.

The mother of the teenager, who is facing trial in New York, said she wanted to be present in court if the case goes ahead.

'Under-age'

Mrs Hassan said her son had been missing for two weeks prior to the hijacking and she only realised he had been implicated when she heard his name in a radio report.

The teenager is accused of being a member of the pirate gang which boarded the container ship on 8 April and took Capt Phillips hostage in a lifeboat.

The standoff ended on the fifth day while her son was aboard a US warship allegedly demanding a ransom when US Navy marksmen killed three of the pirates.

Mrs Hassan told the BBC's Somali service: "I am requesting the American government, I am requesting President Obama to release my child. He has got nothing to do with the pirates' crime.

"He is a minor; he is under-age and he has been used for this crime. I also request from the US, if they choose to put him on trial, I want them to invite me there."

Her plea came as Somali pirates released a Togo-flagged cargo ship seized last week, reportedly after a $100,000 (£68,000) ransom was paid.

On Sunday, the weak, internationally recognised Somali government said captured pirates could face the death penalty.

But the Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective administration since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed piracy to thrive.

Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to the gangs.

The 5,000-tonne Lebanese-owned MV Sea Horse - which had been heading to India to pick up food aid for Somalia - was seized on 14 April.

But 19 foreign vessels and more than 300 sailors remain in the hands of Somali pirates, who have stepped up attacks on shipping in recent weeks.

About three million people - half the Somali population - need assistance, donors say.

On Sunday, the weak, internationally recognised Somali government said captured pirates could face the death penalty.

But the Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective administration since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed piracy to thrive.

Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to the gangs.

[SummerRain]

Maxey xaraanta uga cilinwayse marke hore?

[ms.naliaa]

What are they gonna charge him with?

Hes not american, he doesnt speak english....sure they can find a somali moron to translate for him and would probably give americants what they wanna hear and further wreck Somali image....
normall guantanamo bay would be the right fit...but since Obama has 'disbanded' it...where are they gonna put him.
Somalia has no gov't to speak of to deal with this issue....America has no jurisdiction in how this siutation to be handled
might I add...hes' reportedly 16 which makes him a minor on top of everything.

[American-Suufi]

the problem with somali parents is they dont know what their sons do, and if they do know like this pirate and when in the west their kids commit heinous crimes they want to smuggle them out of the country. somalis believe in tribal/nomad collective punishment or rewards not individual responsibility.

[American-Suufi]

What are they gonna charge him with?

Hes not american, he doesnt speak english....sure they can find a somali moron to translate for him and would probably give americants what they wanna hear and further wreck Somali image....
normall guantanamo bay would be the right fit...but since Obama has 'disbanded' it...where are they gonna put him.
Somalia has no gov't to speak of to deal with this issue....America has no jurisdiction in how this siutation to be handled
might I add...hes' reportedly 16 which makes him a minor on top of everything.

he kidnapped and threatened to kill an american.

[Sagaashan]

the kid is obviously 19 and not 16. there is no nutritious food or supplements that make people older than they or any younger. this might be their only option to get him off the rail. most likely the kid will be convicted and sentenced to life. what a bummber from xarardheer to the maximum prison in arizona. not your typical american dream, cindrella story.

[Ahmed-Gurey]

I Think It is all pre-planned prepaid stuff. They picked him to showcase piracy in the media , a replay of the slave history, if you will.
Americans will have enough of his pics over and over on TV and how he is tried.
Worse of all, as ugly as he looks, he is an image-killer of Somalis. Being poor, pirate, and scrawny.

His trial will be Televised and politicized a lot.

[FAH1223]

What are they gonna charge him with?

Hes not american, he doesnt speak english....sure they can find a somali moron to translate for him and would probably give americants what they wanna hear and further wreck Somali image....
normall guantanamo bay would be the right fit...but since Obama has 'disbanded' it...where are they gonna put him.
Somalia has no gov't to speak of to deal with this issue....America has no jurisdiction in how this siutation to be handled
might I add...hes' reportedly 16 which makes him a minor on top of everything.

just a lil devil's advocate

thats interesting and under normal circumstances this is true... because somalia would have a state... but we can't ignore it is the sole superpower that took him and you can argue that they have the greatest sovereignty with their military everywhere