Somalia Government Rules Khawarij Sounded Better Than Al-Shabaab On Militant Group
Date
11/8/2022 10:11:49 AM
(MENAFN- SomTribune) Horn of Africa country's Religious Affairs Ministry urges public to refer to al Qaeda-linked group as 'Khawarij,' or deviant sect
The Somali government on Monday banned the use of the name“al-Shabaab,” referring to the al Qaeda-linked terror group that the majority-Muslim nation said is a deviant sect.
In a statement, Somalia's Ministry of Religious Affairs also barred scholars from having dealings with the armed terror group, which it said should rather be referred to as“Khawarij,” a term describing a deviant sect.
“By executing the orders of the nation's leaders and recommendations from the religious scholars, the Ministry has banned the use of term al-Shabaab and only should be called them as Khawarij,” said the statement, forbidding the group's ideology, as well.
The new order came after President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud announced a“total war” against the group.
Somalia has been grappling with security threats for years, with al-Shabaab being one of its main concerns.
Since 2007, the terror group has fought the Somali government and international forces in a deadly campaign that has claimed thousands of lives.
The UN has warned of growing instability in the country, with its periodic reports on Somalia this year detailing attacks by al-Shabaab and groups aligned with the Daesh/ISIS terrorist organization.
At least 1,242 civilians were killed in terrorist attacks in Somalia in 2018-2019, while 1,735 were injured, according to UN figures.
By Mohammed Dhaysane
Anadolu Agency
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