Al-Shabaab arrests over ten elders for failure to pay Zakat

Al-Shabaab has arrested over ten of elders for failure to pay a religious tax to the fanatical group that has occupied Gamboole Which is located some 50km south of Jowhar town, the Middle Shabelle region official said Wednesday.

“Al-Shabaab arrested over 10 elders after they refused to pay Zakaat to the group,” said Ali Osman Eided, who is the advisor to the Middle Shabelle governor.

He added that Al-Shabaab had previously warned it would punish violators.

“Anyone who violates the Al-Shabaab decree is imprisoned by the group,” Eideed said, explaining that detainees have been taken to unknown locations and their fate is unknown.

According to a local resident who declined his named, local fighters defied Al-Shabaab order to round up their livestock.

“Al-Shabaab tried to demand zakaat from local herders and that led the detention of the elders,” he said.

Al-Shabaab adopted monthly Zakat that obliges every nomadic family with 10 heads of livestock to give away at least one, while those rearing as many as 20 are needed to contribute three in alms, according to locals.

The group is carrying out hit and run attacks in major towns under government and deadly explosions in the capital Mogadishu.