Woman MP vows to protect herself after police harrassment

[Hiiraan boy]

BAIDOA, Somalia Feb 25 (Garowe Online) - A woman legislator in Somalia’s interim parliament said on Sunday that she would protect herself by any means from being harassed and abused by security forces.

MP Asha Ahmed Abdalla, a representative from Puntland, said her and fellow lawmakers were continuously subjected to unnecessary searches that often lead to verbal harassment and physical abuse at the hands of “men in green uniform” in the southwestern city of Baidoa.

The green uniform is officially worn by Somali federal troops.

Baidoa is home to President Abdullahi Yusuf, as well as the entire transitional Somali Federal Parliament, since Mogadishu remains unstable despite the presence of Somali and Ethiopian troops.

Addressing the parliament, MP Abdalla said government leaders would be held responsible for whatever happens after she hires private security for her own safety.

The outspoken parliamentarian became the second woman lawmaker this month to criticize the behavior of security forces towards the legislators. Last Wednesday, MP Khadijo Mohamed Dirie voiced similar grievances. [ Full story]

Somali leaders have not responded to either lawmaker’s complaints and Baidoa police officials would not comment on this story.