A Somali woman has come forward with allegations of state-sanctioned abuse, claiming she was detained and tortured as a direct result of her social media activism. The woman, who utilized platforms like TikTok and Facebook, stated that she used her accounts to highlight systemic issues in Mogadishu, including forced evictions, rising fuel costs, and nepotism within the Somali government.

According to her account, the situation escalated when she was brought before a judge. She alleges that during the hearing, authorities presented her social media videos as evidence of wrongdoing. She reports that the judge questioned her activism, specifically asking why she did not limit her focus to her employment as a tuk-tuk driver.

Beyond political criticism, the woman detailed personal experiences with gender-based discrimination. She claims that when seeking employment in government departments and hospitals, she was repeatedly told that securing a position was contingent upon providing sexual favors. She argues that these experiences reflect a broader societal environment in Somalia where women are systematically denied the right to participate in public discourse or express independent opinions. While the woman’s testimony provides a first-hand account of her detention and the alleged harassment she faced, the report does not include a response from Somali government officials or judicial authorities regarding these specific allegations.