About Somalia
 official name: Somalia
capital: Mogadishu
head of state: Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (2004)
state: transitional federal government
population: 8,863,338
independence: from Britain in 1960
languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
religion: Sunni Muslim
currency: Somali shilling (SOS)
Legal wise
status of homosexuality: illegal
age of consent: NA
laws covering homosexual activity: "The Indian Penal Code was applied in British Somalia from 1925 to 1973, when a Somali Penal Code was adopted. Article 409 punishes sexual intercourse with a person of the same sex with imprisonment from 3 months to 3 years, and an act of lust different from sexual intercourse from 2 months to 2 years.
According to Article 410, a security measure may be added to a sentence for homosexual acts. This is normally police surveillance -- to guarantee that the person convicted does not engage in these activities again". (Arno Schmitt and Jehoeda Sofer - "Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies")
[Jehoeda Sofer does not specifically confirm whether the above Articles apply to lesbian sex. On the basis that they are based on the Indian Penal Code, it is assumed that they do not]
Communication
main lines in use: 100,000 (2005)
cellular telephones: 500,000 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 5 (2001).
Radios: 470,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 3; note: two in Mogadishu; one in Hargeisa (2001).
Televisions: 135,000 (1997).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2006)
Internet users: 90,000 (2005)
links and contacts
Queer Somalis/ Qaniisiinta Soomaaliyeed
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/queersomalis/
Articles:
 one somali family
by Mask Admin 7/11/2005
November 7, 2005: If you were a teenage boy in Mogadishu in the 1980s, it was rather desired by your parents that you spend as much time as you can with other boys. Ali Abdulle and Ismail Sakariye took full advantage of this.
IGLHRC ACTION ALERT
u.n. analyst underscores the importance of human rights
by Mask Admin 8/2/2005
February 8, 2005: A United Nations analyst has warned that peace will remain elusive in Somalia if the country\'s new government fails to ensure respect for human rights.
queer somalis talk to new president
by Mask Admin 22/10/2004
October 22, 2004: A queer rights group called Qaniisiinta Soomaaliyeed (Queer Somalis) held talks with a newly-elected president of Somalia.
chaotic somalia picks a president
by Mask Admin 14/10/2004
October 14, 2004: Abdullahi Yusuf, was elected president of Somalia by lawmakers on Sunday in the 14th attempt in a decade to restore government to the lawless country. 24 other members of parliament were either eliminated or stepped down in two earlier rounds of voting. This may not be good news for LGBT people.
 death hangs over somali queers by Mask Admin 3/5/2004
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Matthea Little Smith - Smith is an African American and a lesbian and the daughter of Minnesota civil rights pioneer Matthew Little.
