Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, 34, was executed by firing squad in Galkayo, Puntland, for the brutal murder of a 14-year-old girl who worked as a domestic helper. The case sparked widespread outrage and protests, highlighting the need for stronger child protection laws in the region.

The execution was carried out under the Islamic principle of ‘qisas’, which allows the victim’s family to demand the death penalty. This rare instance of a woman being executed in Puntland underscores the gravity of the crime and the growing concern about child abuse in Somalia. The last known execution of a woman in the region was in 2013.