In an unprecedented judicial development, the semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland has carried out the execution of a woman convicted of murdering her teenage domestic worker. Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, 34, faced a firing squad in Galkayo on Tuesday following her conviction for the brutal beating death of 14-year-old Saabirin Saylaan.
The case, which concluded with a death sentence at the end of last year, represents the first female execution in over a decade under Puntland’s retaliatory sentencing system. The murder occurred in November when Saylaan, an orphaned child worker, succumbed to injuries sustained during what investigators described as “routine physical abuse” during her two-month employment with Diiriye’s family.
Evidence presented during trial included disturbing audio and video recordings recovered from the perpetrator’s phone, documenting systematic violence against the victim. In one particularly chilling audio clip, Diiriye could be heard stating: “I’m enjoying your pain.” A post-mortem examination confirmed multiple injuries and deep stab wounds consistent with prolonged torture.
The execution was conducted under the Islamic legal principle of “qisas,” which allows victims’ families to demand capital punishment rather than accept financial compensation. Mudug regional governor Faysal Sheikh Ali confirmed that representatives from both families witnessed the sentence carried out, in accordance with local decree requiring enforcement of Islamic law in such cases.
The case has ignited widespread public outrage and prompted calls for enhanced child protection measures across Somalia, where abuse often remains unreported, particularly within extended family structures. Hundreds of protesters marched through Galkayo carrying signs demanding “Justice for Saabirin” and calling for accountability in domestic worker abuse cases.
Community leaders, activists, and elders have subsequently advocated for strengthened legal protections for vulnerable children and domestic workers, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities within the current framework.