Sadia Moalim Ali: “Not even prison will silence me”

Private On 12 April, Sadia Moalim Ali, a tuktuk (rickshaw) driver and social activist, was arrested in Mogadishu, by officers of the National Intelligence Agency. Sadia was arrested for her activism – both on social media and in peaceful protests. On 25 June 2026 she, was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Sadia is being targeted and persecuted by the Somali authorities solely for speaking out and for participating in peaceful protest, in a community where women do not traditionally speak up. Amnesty International spoke to her from her prison cell where she is serving her sentence. Amnesty International has been campaigning for Sadia Moalim Ali to be immediately and unconditionally released through its Urgent Action and Joint Letter. How have you been coping since being sentenced to three years in prison? Not much has changed for me since my sentencing. I believe that my conviction and the violations against me are politically motivated. I feel that what has happened to me is an act of retaliation for speaking up about the challenges that Somali people face every day. To my knowledge, this is the first time in Somalia’s history that a Somali woman and mother has been arbitrarily arrested, detained, convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for solely speaking up openly about issues affecting her community. What motivated you to speak publicly about issues affecting ordinary Somalis? I studied midwifery and worked hard to complete my degree despite significant financial challenges. Since I graduated, I have tried to look for employment several times in Mogadishu (the capital of Somalia). I have struggled to find opportunities. As a woman, I often felt excluded and discriminated against. I was told that because I came from a minority clan, my chances of finding a job were limited in a system shaped by Somalia’s 4.5 clan structure, a clan-based power sharing system that often influences access to political and public sector opportunities. I applied for jobs, including in government institutions, but I was never able to secure employment in the field I had trained for. Like many young Somalis trying to survive, I did whatever I could to earn a living. Eventually I started cooking food and selling it online. In the end, I decided to become a tuktuk (rickshaw) driver to make ends meet. It was not the future I had imagined when I was studying, but I refused to give up. My decision to speak on social media came from what I witnessed around me every day. I saw ordinary Somalis struggling with issues that were rarely discussed openly. I spoke because I believed I had the right to express my opinions peacefully on the streets and on social media. I wanted my voice to be heard, and I wanted other Somalis to know that their concerns mattered too. Today, I am in prison because of expressing my views. Describe your arrest, detention and eventual sentencing. I never imagined that I would experience such injustice from the courts. I truly believed in the independence of the judiciary and trusted that the court would protect my rights. That is why I was shocked when I was sentenced to three-years imprisonment. What hurt me most was knowing that my baby was just a year old and still breastfeeding when I was sentenced. As a mother, my greatest responsibility is to care for my child, and I believed that the Somali government, which is supposed to protect the rights and well-being of its citizens, would consider both my situation and the needs of my daughter. The experience has been heartbreaking, not only for me but also for my family and my young daughter, who is growing up without her mother by her side. What issues have you faced in detention before and after your sentencing. After my sentencing, individuals from different government institutions visited me and told me I had brought the sentence upon myself. They said I would be killed if released and pressured me to apologize to the President, admit wrongdoing and seek a pardon. On 29 June, people who said they had been sent by the government offered me freedom if I agreed to remain silent. Shortly afterwards, a senior government official offered me a job on the same condition. I refused to admit to an offence I had not committed or to seek a pardon. Since then, I have continued to face threats and harassment while in detention. Why have you chosen not to remain silent despite everything that has happened? This administration has shown me how far it is willing to go to silence me, including sentencing me to prison. But I cannot remain silent while so many Somalis face injustice. Since my detention, I have witnessed more cases of what I believe are unjust detentions, which has only strengthened my determination to speak out. When I am released, I want to continue advocating for their rights as well as my own. That is why I refuse to be silenced. How has this affected you physically and psychologically? What impact has it had on your child? Psychologically, I am doing well, but physically I am not. I have a kidney condition, asthma, eye pain, and hearing problems that began after a police officer slapped me on the ear during my arrest. My skin has changed, and I have developed wounds and pimples due to poor prison hygiene. I have lost significant weight, I worry about my worsening health, and have not had access to a doctor. More than anything, I miss my daughter. As a breastfeeding mother, I still feel deeply connected to her, and it is painful not being able to care for her. What hurts most is being separated from her by the very government that should protect women and children. Since my detention, I have not been allowed to see her even once, and I worry she is missing the love, care and comfort a mother should provide. Not even my family has been allowed to visit me. I remain hopeful that we will be reunited with my daughter and hold her and give her the love she deserves. When my mother learned of my sentencing, she became unwell and later developed diabetes. I was the family’s breadwinner. After my arrest, my mother is unable to work and support my daughter. I worry about how my family is coping and who will support them. What is your message to Somalis now? My message to Somalis everywhere is to stand up against injustice and never accept it as normal. Today it may be happening to me, but tomorrow it could happen to you or to someone you love. Injustice does not stop with one person, which is why we must all speak out. I want the international community to know that many Somalis face oppression and should be able to enjoy their rights without fear of punishment for expressing their views. What are you hoping from the appeal process and what does justice look like to you? I still have hope in the justice system, but I do not believe justice can be achieved if the same approach that shaped my original case is repeated. Justice means having my case heard by a judge who is free from influence and able to decide based solely on the facts. That, to me, is justice. I need justice! What action would you like people to take today in support of your case? I ask people not to stay silent about what has happened to me. If you can write, then write. If you can speak, then speak. If you can share my story, then share it. As the sun rises and as it sets, continue raising awareness about my arrest, detention, conviction and sentencing. Sadia Moalim Ali has asked for people not to remain silent Call for her immediate and unconditional release write to Somali Authorities