February 4, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
GALKAYO, Somalia — A 34-year-old woman identified as Hodan Mohamud Diiriye was executed by firing squad on Tuesday in Galkayo, central Somalia, after a local court convicted her of killing a teenage domestic worker. The sentence was carried out under a traditional legal principle called qisas, which allows families of murder victims to demand retribution rather than accept financial compensation.
Somalia’s judicial system in regions such as Puntland, where Galkayo is located, incorporates Islamic law alongside formal civil statutes. Under qisas, the family of a homicide victim can choose an execution sentence rather than other penalties, and authorities proceed with the sentence if legal requirements are met.
Diiriye was found guilty in connection with the death of Saabirin Saylaan, a teenager working in her household as a domestic helper. The case drew intense public attention after Saylaan’s death last year, prompting protests in Galkayo and renewed calls for stronger protections for children and domestic workers, community leaders said.
Authorities in Puntland confirmed that members of both the victim’s and the convicted woman’s families were present when the execution took place. Government officials described the sentence as carried out in accordance with established legal procedures under the region’s interpretation of Islamic law.
Child rights advocacy groups in Somalia have highlighted that domestic workers, particularly young teenagers, are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and that enforcement of labour and child protection laws remains uneven in many parts of the country. The high-profile nature of this case has renewed debate among civil society actors about the need for stronger protections and legal safeguards for minors employed in informal settings.
International human rights organisations generally oppose the death penalty and have in the past called on Somali authorities to adopt legal reforms that limit or abolish capital punishment, especially in cases involving juveniles or where trial procedures have not met international standards. Somalia’s legal framework continues to reflect a mix of local customary law and formal judicial practice, which some observers say makes uniform legal oversight challenging.
The execution in Galkayo marks a rare application of capital punishment under qisas in the region, attracting significant media coverage and raising questions about how emerging legal and social norms are being navigated in Somali courts, especially where serious crimes and community expectations intersect.