Africa

Luul Abdiasis murder: Somalia court sentences husband Sayid Ali to death

By Abdirahman Khalif | Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Luul Abdiasis Mohamed, 28, died in January after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her 24-year-old husband.

In a significant development in the case of the brutal murder of Luul Abdiasis Mohamed, which highlighted the fight for justice for victims of gender-based violence and femicide in Somalia, a court has sentenced her husband Sayid Ali Maalim Daud to death.

Luul, a 28-year-old airport worker, died in January after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her 24-year-old husband at their home in Dharkenley district.

Keep reading

The mother of six, who was pregnant at the time, succumbed to her injuries at Digfer Hospital in the capital, Mogadishu, sparking widespread outrage and calls for swift action to apprehend her assailant.

Luul Abdiasis Mohamed, who died in a case of domestic violence in January 2024. (Photo: X/ AWCCSomalia)

In the ruling on Wednesday, Presiding Judge Salah Ali Maxamuud of the Banadir Regional Court, emphasised the gravity of the offence, declaring Sayid guilty of intentionally taking his wife's life.

"This honourable court has sentenced Sayid Ali Maalim Daud to death," the judge declared.

The judge reiterated the court's confidence in the evidence presented during the trial, which pointed unequivocally to Sayid's culpability in the murder.

"Justice has been done. I'm so grateful," he noted.

Sayid's sentencing is the culmination of weeks of legal proceedings, during which the court meticulously examined the evidence and deliberated on the appropriate course of action.

Despite the severity of the sentence, the judge affirmed that the accused had the right to appeal, ensuring due process is followed in the judicial proceedings.

The verdict has been met with acceptance by the family of the deceased, who held a mourning ceremony following the court's decision.

However, Luul's burial is pending as her body remains at the Digfer Hospital mortuary. Legal formalities, including any potential appeals by the accused's lawyers may further delay the final rites.

The case has gripped the attention of the Somali public, with many expressing relief at justice for Luul.

Sayid, who had gone into hiding following the heinous act, was apprehended by authorities a week later, bringing a semblance of closure to the grieving family and providing a glimmer of hope for the resolution to the tragic case.