US offers $3m reward for Somali terror suspects on al-Shabaab Members: Ikrima, Jafar, and Yasin Kilwe

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC 

The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program is offering rewards for information on three members of the Somalia-based terrorist organization Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahidin, al-Shabaab. The Department has authorized rewards of up to $3 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir, Jafar, and Yasin Kilwe.

Since 2006, al-Shabaab has killed thousands of civilians, aid workers, and peacekeepers in Somalia, Uganda, and Kenya. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the July 11, 2010, suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda, which killed more than 70 people, including one American citizen. Al-Shabaab also claimed responsibility for the September 21-24, 2013, terrorist attack against the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that left more than 60 people dead and nearly 200 wounded.

Al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities pose a threat to the stability of East Africa and to the national security interests of the United States. The U.S. Secretary of State named al-Shabaab a Foreign Terrorist Organization on March 18, 2008. In February 2012, al-Shabaab and the al-Qaida terrorist network jointly announced they had formed an alliance.

Abdikadir, better known as Ikrima, was born in 1979 in Kenya to Somali parents. Ikrima reportedly has medium-length hair and has worn a thick moustache. He is missing three fingers on his left hand. He has coordinated the recruitment of Kenyan youth into al-Shabaab and commanded a force of al-Shabaab’s Kenyan fighters in Somalia.

Jafar, also known as Amar, is an al-Shabaab facilitator and has served as Ikrima’s deputy, and is reportedly missing one eye.

Yasin Kilwe is al-Shabaab’s emir for Puntland in northern Somalia. Kilwe was officially appointed al-Shabaab’s leader in the region by Al-Shabaab emir Ahmed Abdi aw-Godane. Kilwe pledged his allegiance to al-Shabaab and al-Qaida in February 2012.

More information about these individuals is located on the Rewards for Justice website at www.rewardsforjustice.net. We encourage anyone with information on these individuals to contact the Rewards for Justice office via the website, e-mail (RFJ@state.gov), phone (1-800-877-3927), or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA). All information will be kept strictly confidential.

The Rewards for Justice program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $125 million to more than 80 people who provided actionable information that put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Rewards4Justice.

Iraq considers allowing girls as young as EIGHT to marry as part of new laws that also force wives to submit to sex at their husband's whim

A file image of a young Iraqi girl. A proposed law would radically lower the legal age of marriage from 18

A new law being considered in Iraq could lead to girls as young as eight getting married and wives having to submit to sex at their husband's every request.

The controversial proposals have provoked outrage from activists both within Iraq and around the globe, who see it as a huge step backwards for women's rights.

The measure, aimed at creating different laws for Iraq's majority Shiite population, could further fray the country's divisions amid some of the worst sectarian bloodshed since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Iraqi human rights activist Hana Adwar said: 'That law represents a crime against humanity and childhood. Married underage girls are subjected to physical and psychological suffering.'

Under current law, the legal age for marriage in Iraq is 18, or 15 with a guardian's approval.

However, with the proposed measure, known as the Jaafari Personal Status Law, there is no stipulated minimum age for marriage but there are rules regarding divorce for girls as young as eight.

The age of the girls is measured according to the lunar Islamic calender, which is 10 to 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calender each year. If this difference is taken into account, the law talks about men divorcing children as young as eight years and eight months.

Critics of the bill believe its authors slipped the age into the divorce section as a backhanded way to allow marriages of girls that young. Government statistics show that nearly 25 percent of marriages in Iraq, in 2011, involved someone under the age of 18, up from 21 percent in 2001 and 15 percent in 1997.

 

Planning Ministry spokesman Abdul-Zahra Hendawi said the practice of underage marriage is particularly prevalent in rural areas and some provinces where illiteracy is high.

The bill also makes the father the only parent with the right to accept or refuse the marriage proposal. 

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The measure is thought to be a priority for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is expected to seek a third term of office in the upcoming elections

Also, under the proposed measure, a husband can have sex with his wife even without her consent. The bill prevents women from leaving the house without their husband's permission, would restrict women's rights to parental custody after divorce and makes it easier for men to take multiple wives.

The law is based on the principles of a Shiite school of religious law founded by Jaafar al-Sadiq, the sixth Shiite imam.

Late last year, Iraq's Justice Ministry introduced the draft measure to the Cabinet, which approved it last month despite strong opposition by human rights campaigners. 

Parliament must still ratify the bill before it becomes law and this is unlikely to happen before the elections scheduled for April 30.

However, Cabinet support suggests it remains a priority for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is widely tipped to seek a third term in office.

Baghdad-based analyst Hadi Jalo suggested electioneering could be the motivation behind the proposal. 

He said: "Some influential Shiite politicians have the impression that they should do their best to make any achievement that would end the injustice that had been done against the Shiites in the past." 

The formerly repressed Shiite majority came to power after the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein's Sunni-led regime.

Since then, Shiite religious and political leaders have encouraged followers to pour in millions into streets for religious rituals, a show of their strength. 

Iraqi Justice Minister Hassan al-Shimmari, a Shiite, has brushed off the criticism of the bill. His office introduced a companion bill that calls for the establishment of special Shiite courts that would be tied to the sect's religious leadership.

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Electioneering could be the motivation behind the proposal, as politicians try and appeal to Iraq's Shiite majority

Al-Shimmari insists that the bill is designed to end injustices faced by Iraqi women in past decades, and that it could help prevent illicit child marriage outside established legal systems. 

"By introducing this draft law, we want to limit or prevent such practices," al-Shimmari said. 

But Sunni lawmaker Likaa Wardi believes it violates women's and children's rights and creates divisions in society. 

She said: 'The Jaffari law will pave the way to the establishments of courts for Shiites only, and this will force others sects to form their own courts. This move will widen the rift among the Iraqi people.' 

New York-based Human Rights Watch also strongly criticized the law this week. 

Joe Stork, the organisation's Middle East director, said: 'Passage of the Jaafari law would be a disastrous and discriminatory step backward for Iraq's women and girls. This personal status law would only entrench Iraq's divisions while the government claims to support equal rights for all.'

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Somaliland: Media Freedom Groups Call for an End to Closure of Somaliland Newspaper

PRESS RELEASE

Somaliland must re-open the offices of an independent newspaper in Hargeisa, says the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

According to an IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Hubaal newspaper in Hargeisa, Somaliland, has been closed since 13 December, 2013, following a raid by the police rapid reinforcement unit (RRU). Police continue to occupy the newspaper's headquarters.

"We are deeply disturbed by the actions of Somaliland authorities to shut down Hubaal newspaper and forcefully occupy its offices," said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa Director. "Authorities in Hargeisa should halt their on-going crackdown on Hubaal and allow it to operate without fear of reprisal".

Somaliland police have accused Hubaal newspaper of dividing the police leadership and misleading security officials, while also claiming that they obtained a court order to close the paper down, although the NUSOJ says they failed to produce this order during the raid.

"The continued closure of Hubaal and presence of police in their offices is nothing but censorship and an attempt to intimidate other media from being critical," said NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman. "Somaliland should withdraw all its forces immediately. Hubaal newspaper and its journalists are exercising their journalistic duty and the authorities must not target them because of their media work."

Harassment of Hubaal newspaper and its journalists has increased since April 2013 as the newspaper has been covering critical issues. On 11 June 2013, a Somaliland regional court in Hargeisa banned the publishing and distribution of the paper.

On 3 July, Hubaal editor Hassan Hussein Keefkeef was sentenced to two years in jail, while the paper's manager Mohamed Ahmed Jama Aloley received a one-year sentence. Both men were also ordered to pay a 2,000,000-shilling ($350) fine each, Marodi Jeh Regional Court Judge Osman Ibrahim Dahir told the media.

The two journalists were found guilty of reporting "false news", "slandering top Somaliland officials", and "falsely accusing employees of the Ethiopian consulate of smuggling alcohol into Hargeisa". The President of Somaliland later pardoned both journalists and the newspaper was allowed to resume its operations.

On 24 April 2013, two gunmen attacked the headquarters of the newspaper, injuring managing director Mohamed Ahmed Jama. The two gunmen are believed to be Somaliland police, and one of the policemen was caught by the Hubaal staffers and was later released by Somaliland authorities.

"Clearly this is systematic campaign to censor and intimidate an independent newspaper in Somaliland. Hubaal is a victim of its reporting about what is really happening in Somaliland," added Baglo.

The IFJ urges Somaliland to ensure that independent media outlets are not harassed, and to allow Somaliland journalists to practice their profession without fear of retaliation.

- International Federation of Journalists

12 of the hardest places to visit on Earth

Stunning lakes of Afghanistan. Picture: Carl Montgomery Source: Flickr

FROM impassable terrains to unstable political situations to strict visa regulations, there are some places on Earth that are nearly impossible to get into.

Fortunately, these adventurous photographers dared to venture into these territories. Even if you can’t be there yourself, you can still enjoy.

From Bhutan to Syria to Angola — read on and take a closer peek.

Pakistan

Travel to Pakistan is usually discouraged due to the threat of terrorist attack, kidnappings and its generally unpredictable security situation.

Travel guide Lonely Planet says: “No matter the attractions, tourism in Pakistan has always been something of a hard sell. A glance at the map shows the country living in a pretty difficult region: always-unruly Afghanistan to one side, Iran to another, and a border with India running through the 60-year-old fault line of Kashmir. But since the events of 9/11, Western pundits have increasingly been wondering if Pakistan isn’t just living in a tough neighbourhood, it is the tough neighbourhood.”

Despite these troubles, it’s “on the brink of being tourism’s next big thing”.

Rani Kort Fort, Pakistan. Source: ThinkStock

The dramatic mountains of Pakistan. Picture: ZillayAli. Source: Flickr

Bhutan

You must have a tourist visa to enter Bhutan which can only be applied for through a Bhutanese tour operator or one of their international partners.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan. Picture: Goran Hoglund. Source: Flickr

Angola

A high degree of caution is issued against travellers intending to visit Angola because of the risk of civil unrest and criminal violence. All visitors require a visa and if you’re travelling independently, you’ll require a letter of invitation from a person or organisation in Angola.

Lonely Planet advises to always ask permission before taking photos in public areas, always carry a photocopy of your passport and don’t wander off the road in rural areas – the threat of unexploded landmines is still a huge problem.

Spectacular Ruacana Falls, Angola. Source: ThinkStock

Syria

Travellers are advised not to travel to Syria due to its extremely dangerous security situation including military conflict, kidnappings and terrorist attacks.

Airports in Damascus and Aleppo may be closed quickly, with little or no notice, and may be subject to checkpoints, due to nearby battles between Syrian and opposition armed forces.

But it’s home to a lot of amazing historical sites including cities of Damascus, Aleppo and Bosra. Most travellers must have a visa.

Turkish bath and minaret in citadel of Aleppo, Syria Source: ThinkStock

Turkmenistan

Independent travel is not allowed in Turkmenistan. All visitors must acquire a tourist visa and have a hired guide at all times.

Door To Hell, Turkmenistan. Picture: Rapidtravelchai. Source: Flickr

Aerial shot of Turkmenistan. Source: ThinkStock

Russia

Everybody needs a visa to visit Russia and to obtain one you must first receive an invitation (usually through your hotel). Tourists are advised to exercise caution when travelling in Russia because of the risk of terrorist threats and criminal activity.

St. Basil Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow. Source: ThinkStock

Libya

DFAT warns Australians thinking of travelling to Libya that there is a high threat of terrorist attack, and tourist visas are generally not available unless you’re part of an organised group tour.

Sahara Desert, Libya. Picture: DStanley. Source: Flickr

Uzbekistan

Uzbek visa rules change frequently, and land borders between Uzbekistan and neighbouring states are often closed at short notice, according to DFAT.

Beautiful architecture of Uzbekistan. Picture: DanielDuce. Source: ThinkStock

Afghanistan

DFAT warns against travel to Afghanistan due to the high risk of terror attack and dangerous security situation. It’s a hostile area, but is full of treasures, according toLonely Planet.

The travel site says: “By any stretch of the imagination, Afghanistan isn’t the simplest country to travel in. For the visitor, it’s a world away from backpacking in Thailand or island-hopping in Greece. It’s a country recovering from nearly three decades of war, with a host of continuing problems. You’ll need to invest time getting the latest safety information, and news from other travellers or colleagues working in the country.”

Scenic shots from Afghanistan. Source: ThinkStock

Somalia

With landmines and illegal roadblocks common, it’s no wonder that DFAT advises Australians not to travel to Somalia. Also, while the number of attacks has recently declined, the threat of piracy in waters off the Somali coast remains.

Somali Wild Ass mother with foal. Source: ThinkStock

Saudi Arabia

According to the Lonely Planet, Saudi Arabia is; “the world’s last great forbidden kingdom, and an emblem of everything most inexplicable to the West: the Middle East, Islam, oil and terrorism. For centuries the country was considered closed to outsiders, penetrable only to the bravest and the boldest ... who risked life and limb to get there. Today it continues to exist only in the realms of the imagination for most people.”

Diriyah, an old city of Saudi Arabia. Source: Flickr

Equatorial Guinea

The government makes it extremely difficult to get a visa making travellers of any kind rare in this country. You will need both a travel and photography permit and according to Lonely Planet women travellers should be prepared to attract a lot of attention.

Presidential Palace, Equatorial Guinea. Picture: BluepostLab. Source: Flickr