Al-Shabab: Samosas are too Christian

In al-Shabab-controlled regions of Somalia, anything deemed un-Islamic is outlawed. This includes mustaches, the World Cup, wearing bras, and dancing at weddings. The militant Islamist group recently added something new to that list: Samosas.

How can a seemingly harmless pastry be un-Islamic? Apparently, it’s the shape. Samosas are fried in a triangular shape, which al-Shabab finds to be strikingly similar to the Christian Holy Trinity. Samosas, known as sambusas in the region, are often enjoyed to break the fast during Ramadan. But now, those caught selling, cooking or eating sambusas could face harsh punishment — if history is any guide. The militant group follows a strict interpretation of Islam, enforcing their moral rulings to the utmost degree. In 2009, al-Shabab gunmen went village to village, rounding up women who were found wearing bras. Traditionally moderate Muslim Somalis were horrified as the women were beaten, their bras forcibly removed, and then told to publicly shake their chests for the men. Al-Shabab’s justification for the public humiliation was that the bras promoted deception, a breach of Islam.

Last year, radio stations were shut down for playing music. Men and women who are not related can no longer shake hands, or even speak to one another in public. Women who are found working in public places face execution in some cases. Women and young girls alike have been arrested and flogged for not wearing hijabs. Watching soccer in general has been outlawed, but al-Shabab took a particular disliking to the World Cup since Somali boys and men were watching soccer instead of joining the group’s jihad against the government. Cinemas no longer show the matches after numerous theaters were attacked with grenades.

It seems anything remotely enjoyable (and triangular) is prohibited, and now, al-Shabab’s control has struck at the core of human survival. As Somalia starves to death, the militant group bans a staple food in East African culture as it is too “Christian.” Humanitarian aid from Western organizations has been mostly outlawed, with UN famine reports called “sheer propaganda“. Al-Shabab’s outlandish rulings may cost millions of lives.