Amnesty International condemns the cross amputations carried out on four young men today by al-Shabab armed militia in northern Mogadishu

Ali Mohamudi Geedi, Osmail Kalif Abdule, Jeylani Mohamed Had and Abdulkadir Adow Hirale had their right hands and left legs amputated by al-Shabab insurgents in front of a crowd of local people this morning.

“These punishments amount to torture,” said Tawanda Hondora, Amnesty International’s Africa Deputy Director. “The horrific nature of such acts that were carried out in front of a crowd adds further injustice and dehumanises these teenagers.” All parties to the conflict, including members of the al-Shabab armed group are bound by norms of international humanitarian law that prohibits torture in all circumstances. Wilfully committing such acts constitutes a war crime.

The four young men were convicted of robbery by an unofficial al-Shabab court, with no due process. On Monday, Amnesty International appealed to the armed group not to carry out the amputations.