afrol News, 28 October - Somali Islamists have stoned a woman to death in Kismayo after being convicted of adultery in a Sharia court, local media reports have said.

This is the first time a sentence carried out about 500 kilometers southeast of Somali capital since fall of country's Islamist regime in 2006.

Local radio station, Radio Shabelle cited Islamist leader Sheikh Hayakallah saying Aisho Ibrahim Dhuhulow, pleaded guilty to committing adultery.

"She was asked several times to review her confession but she stressed that she wanted Sharia law and saying she deserved punishment," said Mr Hayakallah.

Ms Duhulow was buried in ground up to her neck and her head covered with a black sack before she was executed yesterday, Yusuf Abdi Mohamed, a resident who attended the public event said.

"The evidence came from her side and she officially confirmed her guilt, while she told us that she is happy with punishment under Islamic law,'' Mr Hayakalah, Sharia court judge, said in remarks broadcast on Radio Shabelle.

Reports said during the stoning furious relatives surged forward to try to save the woman, prompting guards to open fire, killing a child.

Hundreds of people gathered in a square in Islamist-held port town of Kismayo to watch execution, which had been ordered by a council of hardline elders.

A local resident, Abdullahi Aden said a woman in green veil and black mask was brought in a car, further saying residents waited to watch merciless act.

"We were told she submitted herself to be punished, yet we could see her screaming as she was forcefully bound, legs and hands," said a witness.

Shariah courts operate under a code of Islamic principles first established in Arab world by Muslim prophet Muhammad in the seventh century. Adultery is banned by Shariah law.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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