Somalia’s Minister for Religious Affairs Limaan Ali has issued a stern warning to hotels and business premises promoting immorality in the capital Mogadishu.
Ali told journalist that the government will launch investigation in to several hotels in the city said to be promoting “promiscuity” and “Unislamic” behaviour.
Ali said that hotels found to be promoting immorality will be shut and its proprioters prosecuted.
His move has received mixed reaction from Somalis.
Former Internal Security Minister Abdirizak Mohamed has criticised Minister Ali of focusing on the wrong priorities.
“Mixing up priorities! I have yet to see the Ministry of religious affairs propose counter narrative to Alshabab ideology or present CVE (Counter Violent Extremism)strategy to combat extremism” Mohamed tweeted.
“Yet the Ministry has no problem issuing a warning to Mogadishu Hotels that cater entertainment to the public” he added.
Mohamed was however questioned on his tweet thread what he has achieved in dealing with the militants while he served as minister.
“I think it is the right move since we have got reports of prostitution and other unislamic acts secretly going on in some hotels in Mogadishu. They should be shut down” Abdiaziz Shire a trader in Mogadishu told Radio Dalsan.