PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 52/007/2008

29 April 2008

Further Information on UA 106/08 (AFR 25/004/2008, 23 April 2008 ) Arbitrary detention/Fear of torture or ill-treatment/Risk of Extra-judicial execution

SOMALIA: More than 40 children and youths, aged approximately between 9-18 years

On 25 April, a spokesperson for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia was reported as stating that 32 of the 41 children detained by the Ethiopian forces had been released and that 9 children had been handed over to the Somali Police, Criminal Investigations Division, who were holding them pending investigations.

The children and youths were seized on 19 April when Ethiopian forces stormed Al Hidya mosque in north eastern Mogadishu. They had been attending religious classes at the mosque and had been held at an Ethiopian military camp near the pasta factory in north Mogadishu.

Ethiopian soldiers had reportedly said the youths would be released “once they had been investigated”, and “if they were not terrorists.

No more action is required from the UA network. Many thanks to all those who sent appeals.