Pubdate: Tue, 23 Aug 2005
Source: Ledger, The (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Ledger
Contact:  http://www.theledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/795
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

ISLAMIC COURTS DEMOLISH STALLS IN SOMALIA

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Militias of Islamic courts on Tuesday began pulling 
down stalls suspected of selling wine, marijuana and other drugs in 
Somalia's capital, a militia leader and an Islamic court official said.

Witnesses said the militiamen also confiscated equipment from two video 
halls during their effort to enforce sharia - or Islamic law.

Six people have been arrested accused of dealing in wine, marijuana and 
other drugs prohibited under sharia, and militiamen allegedly found an 
unspecified quantity of drugs inside the demolished iron sheet stalls, said 
Mohamed Duale Hashi, a commander of the Islamic courts' militias in Mogadishu.

Hashi said militiamen targeted drug dealers also because they were seen as 
responsible for robbery and insecurity at a busy road junction in southern 
Mogadishu.

Sheikh Ahmed Mo'alin Yusuf, a leader of the Islamic courts, said the 
demolitions are the beginning of an anti-drug campaign organized by the 
Islamic Courts Union.

"We want to fight against every thing that can spread obnoxious misconduct 
within this Muslim community and the use of narcotics and other toxic 
drugs," he said.

Many Mogadishu residents rely on makeshift stalls to make a living selling 
different goods.

Somalia has not had a government or a functioning economy since warlords 
ousted long-standing dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

A transitional government was formed last year during peace talks in 
neighboring Kenya, but the administration has failed to relocate to 
Mogadishu because the city is considered unsafe.

The government is also opposed by Islamic extremists and some of the dozens 
of warlords who control some of the country's 53,000 militias.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman