Thursday February 13, 2025
Judge Abshir Omar, the presiding judge of the Waaberi District Court in Mogadishu, delivers a statement during a court session. (HOL)
Mogadishu (HOL) — A Somali court has sentenced a married couple to two years in prison for filming and distributing explicit videos, a ruling that has sparked renewed concerns about digital privacy and personal security in the country.
The Waberi District Court in Mogadishu’s Banaadir region found the couple guilty of recording 124 explicit videos and later attempting to extort money from their family members by sharing the content. Presiding Judge Abshir Omar announced the verdict on Thursday, stating that the case had raised serious legal and ethical concerns.
“This case is a wake-up call for the Somali public regarding the dangers of recording and sharing personal content on digital platforms,” Judge Abshir said in a televised statement on Somali National Television. He urged residents of Mogadishu, particularly in Waaberi and Hamar Jajab districts, to exercise caution when using mobile devices and recording private moments.
The court withheld the names and images of the convicted couple due to privacy concerns. However, officials confirmed that both individuals were aware of the recordings and that some of their relatives had been pressured into making payments to prevent further sharing of the footage.
The case is one of the first legal proceedings involving digital privacy in Somalia, where legal frameworks surrounding cybercrime remain underdeveloped. While Somali law criminalizes acts of public indecency and extortion, there are no comprehensive data protection laws governing digital content.
Judge Abshir, who has led the court for three months, described the case as one of the most startling he had handled. He also revealed that one of the parents of the convicted individuals was hospitalized following a car accident after viewing the explicit footage.
The verdict has reignited discussions on the risks of digital content misuse in Somalia, where access to smartphones and internet services has grown rapidly in recent years. Privacy advocates have called for stronger legal measures to protect individuals from unauthorized digital exposure and exploitation. They also argue that Somalia needs to establish clearer regulations addressing digital privacy and cybercrimes to prevent similar cases in the future.
