Somalia: Al shabab executes mentally ill boy

[Coeus]

Mogadishu — Al shabaab fighters in Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia have executed a boy, whom they accused of spying for Ethiopian government, reports said on Thursday.

The report said a a group of Al shabaab fighters shot and killed Nur Mohammed in a village about 24 KM west of Kismayo town, the provincial capital Lower Jubba region.

Some of his relatives said Al shabaab fighters captured Mohammed from Kismayo weeks after he came back from Kenya, pointing out the teenager, who is said to be mentally ill, would always speak English language which made Al shabaab to suspect him.

Reports from the town said hundreds of people were present at the execution.

"Residents expressed a deep concern over the execution of insane teenage boy committed by extremist group Al Shabaab," a witness told Shabelle.

In October 2010, the group, which intends to impose a harsh version of Sharia Islamic law throughout war-devastated Somalia, executed two Somali women in Belet-weyne. The two young female were accused of spying for the Somali government in Hiran region of southern Somalia and that drew a broad condemnation.