Federal Police officers stationed inside Somalia’s House of the People have been accused of physically assaulting a female federal lawmaker,
marking the second reported incident in which women MPs have been threatened and manhandled within the parliamentary complex.
The incident has sparked widespread concern and accusations that the current leadership is steering the country toward authoritarian rule,
with critics warning of shrinking democratic space and growing intimidation of elected representatives.According to Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and parliamentary regulations, security forces are not permitted to physically intervene in legislative disputes.
In cases of disorder or physical confrontation among lawmakers, the Speaker is required only to suspend or close the session.
Members of Parliament are constitutionally protected by parliamentary immunity, which guarantees that they cannot be arrested,
assaulted, detained, or subjected to any form of abuse while carrying out their official duties.
Political observers argue that the reported assault represents a serious breach of constitutional safeguards and sets a dangerous precedent for the independence and safety of Somalia’s legislature.
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