Monday August 30, 2021
Mogadishu (HOL) - The mother of a missing intelligence official made an emotional plea to Somali authorities on Saturday asking for the safe return of her daughter, who was allegedly abducted by senior Somali intelligence officials.
Qali Mohamud Guhad, the mother of Ikran Tahlil Farah, said that Saturday marked nearly two months since her daughter was snatched from a Mogadishu street and that her family is desperate for answers.
"People may make mistakes, but if they break the law, they should be given due process and taken to court. But to kidnap a young girl? What did she do? What is her crime?"
Ms. Guhad believes her daughter is still alive and said that she had left no stone unturned in the quest to find her daughter, adding that she has made several attempts to contact the highest echelons of government.
"I tried to my case heard by the President, Prime Minister, and the head of intelligence but to no avail."
As she broke down in tears, she asked why her innocent daughter was taken and why our government protected her kidnappers.
"I spoke with Fahad Yasin (Somalia's intelligence chief) shortly after her disappearance, and he assured me that I would receive an update on my daughter's whereabouts within two days. That was over a month and a half ago."
Ms. Guhad also said that Hormuud Telecom, Somalia's leading telephone and internet provider, has refused to give her family critical information to shed light on what happened to Ikran.
"Hormuud Telecom has refused to give us the last number that contacted my daughter. I see it as a clear abuse of power."
The mother demanded that the government be forthcoming with information immediately.
"Iran's family members have been patient in waiting for a response, but their patience is running out. We demand that her abductors release her within the next 48 hours.
She appealed directly to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and begged him to intercede on her behalf.
"The Somali government refuses to answer our queries. Our family is pleading to the PM to do his duty and help us find out where she is."
To date, the Somali government has not released any official statement on the disappearance of Ikran Tahlil.
Ikran was employed in the cyber-security unit at Somalia's National Intelligence & Security Agency.
Her colleagues have spoken highly of her, saying that she was a talented agent.
She was last seen getting into a Toyota Hilux at around 8 PM on June 26. It is believed that she was familiar with the people in the vehicle.
Several current and former intelligence and security agents believe that Ikran was abducted because she was in possession of sensitive information regarding Somali soldiers deployed in Eritrea.
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