To: The President of Somaliland (Dahir R Kahin)
CC: Ambassador Bob Dewar @ British Embassy in Addis Ababa
Today we were confronted by our sister and given the tragic news that our mother, Mrs. Shune Hersi Gelleh has been arrested for no particular reason except to satisfy the eccentric desires of other fellow Somalilanders. Our mother is known for her love and desire to stay in her home country, probably her poor health improves in temperate climate rather than in the UK; nonetheless we fear the psychological implications this will have. We were kindly notified that the basis at which our mother was arrested was unclear yet justified by money. This is a clear act of lunacy and must be brought to the attention of the law that resides there. In reference to our home country this can only mean one thing, a corrupt police force, so called security committee led by malice governor and remnants of the last ousted regime.
It hurts us to understand that Somaliland is not all it seems but just an enigma more powerful than the entire country. I know for a fact that our mother will have doubts upon returning there let alone her 9 children she successfully brought them up. Somaliland needs to welcome more Diaspora to return in order to boost the economy, instead, You have just deprived an old lady of the pleasures of her home country and condemning her of crimes unknown. We are remorseful that our first impression of our home country is one of sorrow and regret.
A smart man once said ‘the eye of knowledge is acknowledgement of defeat’. Somaliland must know when they are wrongly condemning the innocent and chastise the criminals that have infiltrated our country and the law itself. We hope you heed our insinuations and undo your wrong doings.
We will continue to write as many letters required for you to understand the atrocity that dwells within our country. May the future be brighter than the present and may our mother (including her other 6 incarcerated relatives gain there freedom) come home safely.
We have to hope one day that the judiciary system of our country will guarantee the freedom of expression, equality of the law to all for both poor and rich, and un-employed and authority as stipulated in the constitution.
The below written names are Shune Hersi Gelleh’s Children
Mohamed abdi UK
Mubarik Abdi UK
Ayan Abdi Holland
Hodan Abdi UK
Abdirahman Abdi USA
Abadi abdi UK
Omar Abdi UK
Asma Abdi UK
Ahmed Abdi UK
This open letter originally published on Somaliland Times