At least 30 women have been arrested by the Somali militant group al-Shabaab for not wearing veils in public as required under their imposed Islamic law, or Sharia law, in Somalia, officials in the area reported. The militant group, listed as a terrorist organization by the United States State Department, has ordered the women to be held for not donning the veil, Shabelle Media Network reported on Tuesday. According to witnesses, the women were arrested during a “security sweep” of the area after thousands had fled violence and famine to Mogadishu. The women are being held in al-Shabaab-run jails, as they are still refusing to obey the strict orders and rulings, al-Shabaab officials said. BM
