Sadia, 27, is a Somali social rights activist and tuk-tuk driver who was unlawfully arrested on 12 April 2026. On 25 June 2026, the Banadir Regional Court sentenced her to three years in prison on charges of “disrespecting government institutions” in connection with her social media activism and peaceful expression.

Sadia’s defence lawyers maintained that she had committed no offence and was exercising her constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression. The Geeska Freedom Centre (GFC), together with Sadia’s lawyers, reviewed the proceedings and sentencing before the lower court and identified a number of serious procedural irregularities and fair-trial concerns. Based on these concerns, her lawyers filed an appeal, arguing that Sadia had committed no criminal offence and that the proceedings leading to her conviction were fundamentally flawed.

On 1 August 2026, the Appeals Court accepted the defence submission and agreed to hear the case afresh.

During the Appeals Court hearing on Wednesday, alongside her lawyers, Sadia was given an opportunity to speak directly to the judge and present her account of what happened following her arrest, including the alleged abuses she suffered while in detention.

Sadia told the court that she was sexually assaulted by two police officers during her detention and that they threatened her with death. She also said that she went without food for several days following her arrest and described the poor conditions and deterioration of her health while in custody.

Sadia further told the judge about her 12-month-old daughter, who is still breastfeeding. She said she was prevented from seeing her child during her detention, despite her daughter’s need for breastfeeding and maternal care.

These concerns are particularly serious given Somalia’s constitutional protections against unlawful detention, violence and inhumane treatment, as well as the state’s obligations to protect the welfare of mothers and children. Somalia’s Constitution also guarantees arrested and detained persons the right to a fair trial and protection from physical and psychological harm.

GFC is concerned that these allegations and the circumstances surrounding Sadia’s detention were not adequately addressed during the lower court proceedings, which GFC believes were affected by serious procedural and judicial concerns.

The Banadir Regional Appeals Court hearing therefore marked an important moment. GFC calls on the Appeals Court to conduct a genuinely independent, impartial and transparent review of Sadia’s conviction and to give full consideration to the defence’s concerns regarding procedural irregularities, the evidence presented against her, and her fundamental rights.

“The Banadir Appeals Court must quash Sadia Moalin Ali’s unlawful sentence and restore her freedom. Sadia should never have been imprisoned for exercising her right to freedom of expression. We urge the court to correct the serious irregularities in the lower court proceedings, uphold her fundamental rights, and order her immediate release,” said the Director of Geeska Freedom Centre, Abdalle Mumin. “No person should be imprisoned for peacefully expressing their views, and no detainee should be subjected to abuse whatsoever.”

GFC reiterates its call for the Somali authorities to protect freedom of expression, ensure judicial independence, uphold fair-trial guarantees, and end the misuse of criminal laws against activists, journalists and peaceful critics.

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The court hearing in Mogadishu, attended by the Geeska Freedom Centre (GFC), heard defense lawyers’ application to the appeals court to review the case.

The defence lawyers submitted evidence arguing that the judgment issued by the trial judge on 25 June 2026 contained text generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

Working with Sadia’s defense lawyers, GFC has previously published the irregularities contained in the case. Sadia is a social rights activist and a young mother. She committed no crime and should not have been arrested in the first place.

She was arrested on 12 April 2026 for simply exercising her right to peaceful protest in Mogadishu when she joined tuk-tuk drivers protesting against fuel prices and rising taxation. Sadia had actively used her social media platforms to criticize Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over corruption and nepotism — all of which are rightful expression.

Sadly, the judge at the Banadir Regional Court sentenced her to three years in prison on 25 June 2026 on charges related to “disrespecting government institutions” under Article 269 of the Somali Penal Code and “instigation to commit a crime” under Article 320.

Sadia, through her lawyers, told the court she was subjected to beating, stripped naked, and threatened with rape by Somali police officers.

Sadia is the mother of a 12-month-old baby daughter who needs her care.

GFC welcomes the decision by the Banadir Regional Appeals Court to carry out a review in this case. As lawyer Mohamed Sheikh Osman told GFC, the announcement means that the appeals court has agreed that the previous three-year sentence against Sadia contained irregularities.

“Our argument is the same: Sadia should never have been arrested. She did nothing wrong, and we want her immediate freedom,” lawyer Mohamed Sheikh Osman said.

GFC Director Abdalle Mumin welcomed the decision and called for full justice for Sadia.

“Today’s decision is an important step towards justice, but it is only the beginning. Sadia was prosecuted for peacefully exercising her fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. No one should face imprisonment for criticising their government or joining a peaceful protest,” Mr. Mumin said. “We urge the Appeals Court to overturn this unlawful conviction and order Sadia’s immediate release. We also call for an independent investigation into the serious allegations that she was tortured and subjected to sexual violence while in police custody.”

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Family members told Kaab TV that the minister entered the prison cell this week and met privately with Sadia, who is serving a three-year prison sentence following her conviction in June.

According to a family member briefed on the meeting, the minister urged Sadia to “admit guilt” and “seek forgiveness,” allegedly telling her that doing so could lead to her release.

A prison source, who spoke to Kaab TV on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, also claimed the government has been attempting to persuade Sadia to reach “a deal”.

“The proposal is for Sadia to confess to offences such as being anti-government and to express regret over her criticism of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,” the source said. “After that, the government would consider granting her a pardon.”

Sadia’s family rejected the reported proposal, describing it as part of an ongoing campaign of intimidation intended to further implicate her.

Sadia Moalin Ali was arrested on 12 April and, on 25 June, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after being prosecuted over public comments criticizing alleged corruption, rising fuel prices, and the increasing cost of living in Mogadishu. Supporters and rights advocates have argued that the case is politically motivated and linked to her exercise of freedom of expression.

While in prison Sadia faced beatings, stripped naked as she was denied access to food, health and family.

In a letter she sent from her prison cell last week published by Kaab TV, she stated “I suffer from asthma, which has caused me significant hardship. As I have repeatedly stated, I have not received the medical care that my condition requires. I therefore request immediate access to an independent doctor to assess my health and ensure that I receive the medication, treatment, and living conditions necessary for my well-being.

In her letter Sadia also stated she is “demanding justice” and that she will not seek pardon.

The Justice Ministry has not publicly responded to the family’s allegations regarding the reported prison visit or claims that Sadia was pressured to confess.

Previous remarks by the Justice Minister

Minister Hassan Sheikh Ali has previously attracted criticism over comments he made about Sadia’s case.

On 9 April, days before Sadia’s re-arrest, he addressed a meeting with local journalists in Mogadishu after returning from London, where he said he had been visiting his family.

During the meeting, according to journalists who attended the meeting, the minister criticized media outlets for interviewing Sadia and warned journalists against providing her with a platform.

“I was in London with my family and had to cut short my stay because this woman, Sadia, was giving the government a bad image. Why would any journalist interview her? What does she know? She is nothing. We shall arrest her, and any journalist who interviews her will be dealt with,” the minister allegedly told the gathering.

The comments were made shortly before Sadia was arrested.

She had previously been detained in March after taking part in a peaceful demonstration alongside tuk-tuk drivers in Mogadishu protesting taxes and demanding reductions in fuel prices.

Mogadishu mayor’s comments

Last week, Mogadishu Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein, commonly known as Muungaab, also drew criticism after making remarks about Sadia during a public event.

Referring to her detention, he said: “This woman called Sadia, who is widely talked about these days, it is good for her to be in jail, because even if she is released she will not be safe. I am afraid she will be killed, similar to what happened to Ikraan Tahliil.”

The mayor was referring to Ikraan Tahliil, an employee of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), who disappeared in June 2021. Her disappearance remains one of Somalia’s most controversial unresolved cases.

Minister Hassan Sheikh Ali, a former member of Somalia’s federal parliament, has family in London, United Kingdom, where they reportedly sought asylum during the early 1990s.

During Somalia’s 2016 parliamentary elections, he faced allegations that he had “ordered” the killing of a clan elder who opposed his parliamentary candidacy during a heavily contested selection of parliamentarians in the central Somali town of Adado.

The allegations were widely reported at the time but were never adjudicated in court. Hassan Sheikh Ali never denied wrongdoing, was subsequently elected to parliament, and no criminal proceedings were brought against him.

The minister has not publicly responded to renewed references to those allegations.

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The ruling came after a series of court proceedings that centered on accusations brought by the Office of the Attorney General against the young women’s rights advocate, who has been in detention since April 12, 2026. Her supporters and rights groups have repeatedly questioned both the legal basis of her detention and the manner in which the case was handled.

The second hearing in the case was held on June 23, 2026, after being postponed two days earlier without an official explanation. The postponement came amid a change in the judicial panel, as the judge who presided over the initial hearing was replaced before the proceedings resumed.

During the first hearing on June 1, prosecutors charged Sadia with “insulting state institutions” and “incitement to commit a crime.” The charges stemmed primarily from social media videos in which she criticized former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and members of his family, as well as comments she made regarding the conduct of government institutions.

Defense lawyers argued that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the charges and maintained that the accusations lacked the detail necessary to establish criminal liability. They contended that Sadia, a mother who earned a living as a tuk-tuk driver, was being prosecuted for exercising her right to express opinions on matters of public interest.

The case took a new turn when a different judge, Salah Ali Mohamud, commonly known as “Salah Dabaan,” presided over the second hearing. The change in judges generated controversy among some of Sadia’s supporters and members of the defense team, who questioned the circumstances surrounding the replacement. Court officials did not publicly explain the reasons for the judicial change.

Access to the courtroom during the second hearing was heavily restricted. Journalists were reportedly barred from entering with cameras and were not permitted to report from inside the courtroom. Some media personnel also stated that they were instructed not to take notes during the proceedings, raising concerns among observers about transparency.

Defense lawyers later alleged that video clips released from the hearing did not accurately reflect the full proceedings and omitted key arguments presented by the defense. They further claimed that certain excerpts circulated online created a misleading impression of what had transpired inside the courtroom.

Throughout the proceedings, prosecutors presented several pieces of evidence, including social media content and interviews allegedly given by Sadia while in detention. Among the issues discussed in court were her public statements regarding conditions in detention facilities and allegations she had made concerning her treatment while in custody.

Sadia told the court that she had been subjected to threats while under detention, including allegations that a police investigator threatened her with sexual violence. She identified the officer by the nickname “Big Show.” The defense argued that these allegations should be independently investigated and called for those responsible, if any wrongdoing occurred, to be held accountable.

Prosecutors also accused her of participating in demonstrations in Mogadishu and of being associated with youth-led activism critical of government policies. Her legal team rejected those claims and insisted that the prosecution had failed to establish any criminal conduct.

The case attracted significant international attention. Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network), expressed concern about her detention and called for her release. Other advocacy groups argued that the case raised broader questions about freedom of expression, due process, and the treatment of detainees in Somalia.

Following more than two months in custody, the Banadir Regional Court ultimately found Sadia guilty and sentenced her to three years in prison. The verdict is expected to remain the subject of legal and public debate, with supporters indicating that they intend to challenge the ruling through the appeals process.

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The hearing had previously been postponed on Sunday 21 June without any official explanation as the presiding judge was replaced days ago.

The first hearing in the case took place on 1 June 2026, during which the prosecution presented two charges against her: “insulting state institutions” and “incitement to commit a crime.”

The office of the prosecutor general brought charges related to social media videos in which she criticised outgoing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his family. The prosecutor also played a clip in which Sadia raised concerns that police officers had “threatened her with rape”.

During the initial hearing, the judge accepted a preliminary objection from the defence lawyers, who argued that the charges were not sufficiently detailed and that there was no evidence proving that Sadia, who is a mother a young daughter and earns tuktuk taxi, had committed any crime.

It is noteworthy that the judge who presided over the first hearing was instantly replaced.

The second hearing was presided over by Judge Salah Ali Mohamud, commonly known as “Salah Dabaan,” who is reportedly from the same clan as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

How the proceedings happened

Media access was restricted during Tuesday’s hearing, with journalists – including our team denied entry with cameras or permission to report from inside the courtroom. We were even told not to take notes.

However, we saw the presiding judge, Salah Daban, brought his own cameraman into the courtroom to record proceedings, raising concerns among defence lawyers about the transparency and fairness of the process.

Later in the day, short edited video clips from the hearing circulated on social media, specially on a Facebook page associated with the Banadir Regional Court.

Two of the defence lawyers who spoke to Kaab TV said the footage did not reflect the full proceedings, noting that key defence arguments were omitted.

They also alleged that some audio had been cut or edited in a way that misrepresented statements as an admission of guilt.

During the session on Tuesday, the prosecution reintroduced the same two charges, adding further details. They alleged that Sadia “had posted a video claiming that the Banadir Regional Administration recruits people through clan-based networks and that most senior positions are dominated by a single clan.”

The prosecution also submitted an audio interview reportedly given by Sadia on 20 April 2026 while she was in custody, in which she said she “had gone four days without food”. The prosecutor presented this audio as “a damaging to the reputation of the prison and the government”.

In addition, prosecutors cited a recent report published by The Guardian, which included Sadia’s allegations that she “was stripped naked, beaten, and taken to a so-called “death room” inside detention.”

They also played another video clip of Sadia saying that she feared for well-being and safety after a police officers “threatened her with rape”

Sadia was then asked to explain. When she stood she told the court that police officers including the officer who was investigating her whom she named as ‘Big Show’ had threatened her with “rape”.

The defence team maintained that Sadia should be released immediately and those who threatened her with sexual violence be arrested.

Throughout the hearing, prosecutors also accused her of participating in protests in Mogadishu and of being a leader of a youth-led movement in the city—claims which the defence strongly denied.

The case has attracted significant public attention, with human rights organisations stating that her arrest and prosecution appear to be an attempt to silence youth voices in Somalia.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and SIHA Network have recently called for her immediate release.

The Geeska Freedom Centre has also condemned her detention and the charges against her.

A verdict is expected to be announced on Thursday, while Sadia remains in custody, having been detained for 74 days.

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