SOMALIA: Soccer fans defy Islamic courts militia ban of screening the World Cup in Mogadishu.

Record ID: 565100

  • Title: SOMALIA: Soccer fans defy Islamic courts militia ban of screening the World Cup in Mogadishu.
  • Date: 10th June 2006
  • Summary: (BN17)MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (JUNE 10,2006) (REUTERS) STREETS OF MODADISHU VARIOUS OF VENUES SCREENING WORLD CUP MATCHES SIGN BOARD ADVERTISING WORLD CUP MATCH BETWEEN ENGLAND AND PARAGUAY EXTERIORS OF CINEMA HALL FANS WATCHING MATCH BETWEEN ENGLAND AND PARAGUAY (SOUNDBITE) (SOMALI) AHMED ALI, SOCCER FAN, SAYING: "The World Cup is being watched all over the Muslim countries. And also some Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia are playing in this year's World Cup, therefore we would like a situation in Mogadishu where the Islamic courts allow the youth and soccer fans to watch the World Cup." FANS CHEERING THE SOCCER MATCH
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAIV7SBKCK31DI3GRO3MZVEAUT
  • Story Text: Somali soccer fans defied Islamist militiamen and continued watching the World Cup even after shots were fired in the air to disperse hundreds of others protesting on Saturday against moves by the sharia courts to stop them watching in capital Mogadishu.
    The soccer tournament had drawn huge crowds to television screens set up under trees and iron-sheeted shacks, providing some escapism from the tension that has gripped Mogadishu since Islamists seized it from an alliance of warlords on Monday.
    Witnesses said scores of young men set fire to tyres late on Friday in protests that carried on in the morning after Islamist gunmen pulled the plug on makeshift cinemas airing the soccer tournament.
    According to residents of Mogadishu, at least two people were wounded when militia tried to break up the demonstrations that centred around the main livestock market in an Islamist stronghold in the capital's north.
    Ahmed Ali, an ardent soccer fan, said that the Islamic courts should allow people to watch the matches since other muslim countries were participating.
    "The World Cup are watching all over Muslim countries, also some Muslim countries are playing this year the World cup such as Saudia Arabia, therefore we like in this situation of Mogadishu that Islamic courts would allow to the youth and soccer fans to watch the world cup," said Ali.
    Leaders of the capital's influential Islamic courts oppose Western and Indian films which they say promote immorality in the mainly Muslim nation of 10 million people. Some residents fear the latest move to outlaw foreign entertainment is proof the Islamists want to create a Muslim state following their victory against a self-styled anti-terrorism coalition of secular warlords, believed to be backed by Washington.
    The Islamic courts have been popular for restoring a semblance of order -- through sharia law -- in parts of the anarchic city, carved into fiefdoms by warlords who ousted military ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
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