Family pleads for mentally ill man sentenced to death

The family of a mentally ill man sentenced to death by firing squad in Somaliland has appealed to the country’s president to intervene to prevent his execution. The case of Abdullah Ali, who was convicted of shooting and killing a man last year, has prompted an international outcry, with Human Rights Watch declaring it a […]

The family of a mentally ill man sentenced to death by firing squad in Somaliland has appealed to the country’s president to intervene to prevent his execution.
The case of Abdullah Ali, who was convicted of shooting and killing a man last year, has prompted an international outcry, with Human Rights Watch declaring it a particularly cruel punishment for someone diagnosed with severe mental health problems.
His sister Faisa Ali said the family had taken the case to the supreme court and was expecting a ruling before the end of the month.
“We are very concerned about him because the supreme court decision will be final and I expect they will agree with the regional court and uphold the death sentence,” said Faisa Ali.
“We are asking the president of Somaliland, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, to intervene to stop this crime against a mentally ill person.”
Ali, a father of nine from the city of Lasanod, started to suffer from hallucinations, delusions and depression in 2011. He spent two years at the Daryeel hospital in the capital Hargiesa, diagnosed with psychosis. He was discharged in February last year but his sister said his mental health problems had continued.