Saturday 8 January 2011

Somalia: Islamist group al-Shabab bans men and women from shaking hands or speaking in public under Sharia law


So much for 21st century sensibilities in the Muslim world. But, of course Islam is the great wonderful religion Barack Obama loves to defend.

BBC News reports that men and women have been banned from shaking hands in a district of Somalia controlled by the Islamist group al-Shabab.

Under the ban imposed in the southern town of Jowhar, men and women who are not related are also barred from walking together or chatting in public.

It is the first time such social restrictions have been introduced.

The al-Shabab administration said those who disobeyed the new rules would be punished according to Sharia law.