I am sorry but at this moment I don’t care about the -SomaliaWeNeverSee.

At this moment there are soldiers /tribe men/militants, I don’t even know what to call them on standby in Galkacyo waiting for the first bullet to be fired. In fact two days ago there were fired bullets from one side that killed my uncle (my father’s first cousin) and another man who had hearing disabilities.

 His name was Ina Istur, I was very acquainted with him when I was working in our hotel back home. He was the security guard of the Galdogob Mayor. Although Somalia is tough on people with disabilities he had a free spirit and was full of jokes and laughter, he radiated with positivity and managed to always shine the place he was in. I was horrified when I was told he was dead and was killed by a flying bullet, he left three girls behind. My uncle too was killed; a bullet entered his left kidney and came out from the other (may Allah have mercy on his soul).

I know I am being graphic but I don’t know why the state of Galkacyo is so pathetic like that, I don’t know if its sheer tribalism or power struggle or lack of accountability and Deen.

Somalis pride themselves in being Muslims and very conservative yet they take the spilling of blood very lightly as if they’re not going into dark graves and won’t be held accountable before a just Lord where “I was taking revenge for my cousin/tribe or my perceived honour” won’t benefit them in anyway.

 من أجل ذلك كتبنا على بني إسرائيل أنه من قتل نفسا بغير نفس أو فساد في الأرض فكأنما قتل الناس جميعا ومن أحياها فكأنما أحيا الناس جميعا ولقد جاءتهم رسلنا بالبينات ثم إن كثيرا منهم بعد ذلك في الأرض لمسرفون

“Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.”

Unless we respect the blood and respect the doctrines of our Deen, our situation in Somalia won’t change. Unless we learn compassion and act like Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) we will never thrive.

Sometimes, I pride myself in being a descendant form the great city of Galkacyo, where people are resilient and tough, where people are humorous despite their circumstances, where people are hospitable and optimistic, where people are cultured and nice.

But sometimes -like today- I feel ashamed of being from a city that fights often, a city that kills with cold blood, a city that doesn’t read into beyond their immediate selfish interest or the consequences of their action, a city where families live in fear and horror, a city where if your child leaves to school you might never see him/her again.

When I hear the news coming from Galkacyo and other unstable cities in Somalia and simultaneously see the –SomaliaYouNeverSee – posts I become furious. "Why are you people being insensitive?" I think. Right now I care less about the SomaliaINeverSee, because honestly it isn’t there to be seen.

Maybe it’s an escape mechanism. Maybe it’s denial method. Maybe it’s having the strength of positivity amongst all the negativity. Maybe it’s a sign of hope. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking.

And it is wishful thinking unless we change it from a hastag
to reality. How do we do that?

You know how when we need answers to questions that we don’t know we go and open Google?. Our Google is our Qura’an. How about we open it for change and see what is says about changing ourselves before Allah changes our circumstances. How about we read the part where Allah (SWT) says 

“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.”

By: Asia Aboosy