Mohamud Mursal Muse was executed by al-Shabaab authorities after being sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
In April 2015, the militant Islamist group al-Shabaab executed a Somalian man, Mohamud Mursal Muse. He had allegedly insulted the Prophet Muhammad. The exact nature of his offending comments is unknown, but he reportedly confessed to having blasphemed.
Mohamud stood “trial” in a religious court of al-Shabab’s design, where his mental fitness was purportedly verified and confirmed. Accordingly, therefore, he received the standard sentence for blasphemy against the Prophet. His execution was carried out by a firing squad.
Somali Islamist Militants Execute Man for Blasphemy - Voice of America
Somalia’s recent history has been riddled with violent conflict, and much of its territory remains under the control of the militant Islamist organization al-Shabaab. Additionally, the northwestern part of the nation, Somaliland, is controlled by a separate government which is generally not internationally recognized, and it is governed by the same penal code and a similar constitution as Somalia. In Somalia proper, Islam is the state religion, and blasphemy is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment and fines. There is no separate punishment for apostasy, but the constitution notes that no laws may be enacted which contradict Islamic religious law. Publicized prosecutions for blasphemy are rare, probably owing to the fragile political situation and consequent difficulty of international access to information about local and regional goings-on, but at least one has taken place in Somaliland, and al-Shabaab authorities may impose capital punishment for blasphemy and apostasy.