Islamist rebels whip 32 dancers in Somalia

By Guest Column —— Bio and Archives November 17, 2008

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MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamist insurgents whipped 32 people in Somalia on Saturday after arresting them for taking part in a traditional dance in rebel-held territory south of the capital Mogadishu.

Fighters enforcing a strict form of sharia law have been slowly advancing on the city, raising the stakes in their two-year rebellion and undermining fragile U.N.-brokered peace talks to end 17 years of chaos in the Horn of Africa nation. Last month, they stoned to death a young woman accused of adultery in the rebel-controlled southern port of Kismayu. Islamist spokesman Sheikh Abdirahim Isse Adow said those arrested had been warned several times against dancing. More...