Somalia: Hawiye Clan Elders welcome the decision of the parliament

Hawiye Clan Elders have welcomed the endorsement of Islamic Sharia by the Somali parliament on Sunday.

Somalia’s parliament has unanimously voted for the implementation of the Islamic Sharia on Saturday.

The chairman of Hawiye Traditional Council Mohamed Hassan Haad, described the endorsement as a good chance for the Somali people and warmly welcomed.

Haad called for the Somali people to work for the peace and support the peace efforts by the Somali clerics and elders.

Islamist rebels have also welcomed the decision of the parliament. Sheik Muse Abdi Arale, the spokesman of Hizbul Islam Islamist group welcomed the approval of the parliament but he said they were waiting until the parliament puts it on action.

Many Islamist factions seem to support the decision of the parliament. But al-Shabab Islamists had previously rejected the proposal and described it as “hypocritical,” and there is no word from them yet about the decision of the parliament.

Lawmakers said they hope the approval of the Islamic law by the parliament would drain support from the Islamist rebels.

Their key demand was the implementation of the Islamic Law.

amsomalia@mareeg.com