Terror Free Somalia Foundation: Al Shabaab Arrests 30 People For Shaving Their Beards

Mogadishu, Somalia (AHN) - Al Shabaab militants in Hiran have taken into custody more than 30 people, accusing them of having shaved their beards, Somali residents said Tuesday.

Residents in Bet-weyne, a town about 724 Kilometers north of the capital city Mogadishu, said militants began searching the village early in the morning, looking for clean cut males. The terror group recently ordered locals to cut off their mustaches but grow their beards. Al Shabaab has been arresting these persons, claiming they violated their Islamic orders.
Some al Shabaab officials on Tuesday spoke to Belet-weyne residents in the town square and told them that the arrested ones would be punished in accordance with Islam, warning them not violate orders including shortening trousers, shaving mustache and releasing beard.
Last Friday, about 20 Somali youths were taken from Belet-weyne. Al Shabaab militants in the Hiran, Lower Jubba and Gedo regions had ordered the people to shorten the length of their pants as well as cut their hair. One of the young people in Bletweyne town told local radio station Shabelle, on condition of anonymity for security reasons, that al Shabaab fighters started search operations in the neighborhoods of the town and detained 17 youths.
"They have scissors and forcibly cut both hair and trousers of the youths," the unnamed youth explained. "We are in a fear condition as we can't go out since al shabaab fighters could be seen everywhere in the town, conducting operations against Elivis hair and trousers for long legs."
The young man voiced a deep anxiety about al Shabaab operations. He eventually called on al shaabab officials to stop using soldiers to harrass civilians.
Al shabaab, who controls large swathes in southern and central Somalia including many parts of the capital city Mogadishu, had imposed tough orders on the women, to cover their bodies by taking veils. Also, they banned women and men sitting together in the transportation buses.

bdi Hajji Hussein - AHN News Correspondent

Here's a quick look back some of the last somali shabaab Fashion Police Patrol Sharia law.