Somalia Executes First Woman in Decade Following Child Murder Conviction
Galkayo, 3 February 2026
Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, a 34-year-old mother of 13, faced a firing squad in Galkayo on Tuesday after brutally murdering 14-year-old domestic worker Saabirin Saylaan. Disturbing phone recordings revealed Diiriye saying ‘I’m enjoying your pain’ during months of systematic torture. The orphaned victim endured routine beatings and stab wounds before her death in November sparked massive protests demanding justice. Under Islamic qisas law, both families witnessed the execution - Puntland’s first female execution under retaliatory sentencing in over a decade. The case has ignited calls for stronger child protection laws in Somalia, where domestic abuse often goes unreported within extended families.
Historic Execution Under Islamic Law
The execution was carried out under ‘qisas’, an Islamic legal principle that allows the family of a murder victim to demand execution rather than accept financial compensation [1][2]. Faysal Sheikh Ali, Mudug’s governor, confirmed that members of both Saabirin’s family and Diiriye’s family were present when the sentence was carried out on Tuesday morning [1][2]. This marked the first time in more than 10 years that a woman had been executed in Puntland under a retaliatory sentence [1][2]. The Mudug Regional Court had issued a statement earlier regarding the execution, which was implemented under a decree in the Mudug region requiring Islamic law to be enforced in such cases [1][3].
Systematic Abuse and Disturbing Evidence
During their investigation, police revealed that in the two months Saabirin had been living with Diiriye’s family, the young girl had endured ‘routine physical abuse’ - she was beaten and tortured [1][2]. Evidence recovered from Diiriye’s phone, including videos and audio recordings, documented repeated violence against the teenager [1][2][3]. Some of these recordings were leaked to the public before the trial, though it remains unclear who released them [1][3]. In one particularly disturbing recording, Diiriye can be heard saying: ‘I’m enjoying your pain’ [1][2]. A post-mortem examination of Saabirin’s body revealed multiple injuries and deep stab wounds consistent with prolonged violence [1][2].
Victim’s Tragic Background and Living Arrangements
Saabirin Saylaan was orphaned when both her parents died within a short period when she was one year old [1]. She was initially looked after by her family, but in 2025, Saabirin’s great-aunt agreed that Diiriye’s family, who needed a home help, could take her in [1]. The 14-year-old had been working as a domestic helper when she was murdered in November 2025 [1][2]. Diiriye herself was a mother of 13 children, and when the sentence was announced, she had previously expressed her acceptance of the ruling and indicated her willingness to face the consequences as dictated by Islamic law for her actions [3].
Public Outrage and Calls for Reform
Saabirin Saylaan’s killing in November sparked protests in Galkayo, along with renewed calls for greater child protection [1][2]. As details of the police investigation emerged, public anger grew, with hundreds of women and young people marching in Galkayo, one of Puntland’s largest cities, carrying signs reading ‘Justice for Saabirin’ and calling on the authorities to prosecute all those responsible [1]. The case touched a deep nerve in a country where child abuse often goes unreported, especially when it occurs inside extended families [1]. In the wake of the case, activists, elders and community leaders have called for accountability and stronger protections for children and domestic workers, who are often vulnerable to abuse [1][2]. The last known execution of a woman in Puntland occurred in 2013, when 13 members of the Islamist militant group al-Shabab, including one woman, were executed by firing squad for their involvement in the killing of a prominent Islamic scholar [1].