Latest news with #Somalis
Middle East Eye
6 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Omar Fateh's Minneapolis mayoral run sparks anti-Black, Islamophobic backlash
Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh has faced a wave of racist and Islamophobic attacks after prominent right-wing social media accounts questioned the 35-year-old's citizenship and falsely claimed he was not American. Fateh, a Minnesota state senator since 2020, launched his mayoral run on 2 December 2024 but began facing a deluge of racist abuse earlier this week when conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the founder and president of the non-profit organisation Turning Point USA, wrote on X that: "Muslims [are] commanded to take over the government in the land they live." "The attempted Islamic takeover of America is made possible thanks to mass migration," Kirk said in the same post. Turning Point USA says it "empowers citizens of all ages to Rise Up against the radical Left in defense of freedom, free markets, and limited government". Kirk, an activist who repeatedly attacks the religion of Islam and previously called George Floyd, the Black man killed by a white police officer in 2020 a "scumbag", continued to launch attacks on Fateh and called for an end to "third world immigration" to the US. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Following Kirk's initial post, several conservative social media users then began attacking Fateh's mayoral bid, with some asking, "how can we send them [Somalis] BACK?" "We need to be writing an extensive paper showing just how it came to be that there are thousands and thousands of Somalis in Minnesota," one post on X with nearly nine thousand likes reads. "Who are these people? How did they get there? Who funded it? And most importantly - how can we send them BACK." Fateh took to his personal X account to respond to the sudden spike in hate and the city of Minneapolis being criticised for being "too diverse". "Minneapolis is a beautifully diverse city that stands firm in our progressive values," Fateh wrote. "The hate I've seen today - and most days - is not who we will ever be." Minneapolis is a beautifully diverse city that stands firm in our progressive values. The hate I've seen today – and most days – is not who we will ever be. I'm running for Mayor to work with you to achieve the affordable city we know Minneapolis can be. — Omar Fateh (@OmarFatehMN) July 15, 2025 Racist social media users also began sharing fake images and memes saying that Fateh was a Somali pirate in the Hollywood blockbuster film Captain Phillips. Others then began targeting Fateh over his connection to his brother-in-law, Muse Mohamud Mohamed, who was convicted of lying to a federal grand jury for abusing the process of submitting absentee ballots for other voters during Minnesota's primary election in August 2020. Meanwhile, several users attacked Fateh for simply being a Black Somali man. In contrast to the widespread hate, many social media users came to the defence of the Minnesota senator and celebrated his campaign as mayor. Responding to Kirk's initial post on X, which has garnered over 4.1 million views and 61,000 likes, Palestinian-American academic Omar Baddar lashed out at the conservative figure's "anti-Muslim bigotry". "How do you go from rightly insisting that antisemitism should have no place in America to propagating the most disgusting anti-Muslim bigotry imaginable as a core tenet of your worldview?" Baddar wrote. How do you go from rightly insisting that antisemitism should have no place in America to propagating the most disgusting anti-Muslim bigotry imaginable as a core tenet of your worldview? — Omar Baddar عمر بدّار (@OmarBaddar) July 14, 2025 One social media user on X wrote: "The reason why MAGA Republicans are outraged over Omar Fateh running for Mayor, is because his skin color offends them and they're Islamophobic." Most of the posts, however, focused on disputing claims about Fateh's birthplace rather than confronting the Islamophobic or anti-Black attacks. Omar Fateh was born in the United States. — Micah Erfan (@micah_erfan) July 14, 2025 "Senator Omar Fateh is a proud American who is running because, like me, he loves Minneapolis," one social media user posted on X. "I'm proud that Minneapolis is a place where he can run for mayor against me on his own merits - and that this kind of bigotry is widely rejected across our great city."
The Star
12-07-2025
- The Star
Chinese nationals in Africa ‘vulnerable to kidnappings' as cases rise
Chinese nationals are being targeted by kidnappers in African countries as more investors are drawn to the continent in areas ranging from infrastructure development to minerals extraction. Cases of kidnapping for ransom are being seen across Africa. China's embassy in South Africa issued a warning on Sunday about a rise in kidnappings of Chinese women. In Somalia and Ghana, piracy cases targeting Chinese fishing vessels have involved ransom demands. And the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria have also seen armed robbery and abduction cases involving Chinese in recent months. Analysts say Chinese traders are being targeted because of a perception that they operate their businesses outside the formal banking system and that they might be carrying around large sums of cash. In its warning, the Chinese embassy in South Africa said there had been multiple incidents involving Chinese women reported across the country recently, particularly in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape provinces. 'These cases seriously threaten the personal and property safety of Chinese nationals,' the embassy said, urging women to avoid going out alone. 'If you are unable to travel with others, please inform your relatives and friends of your whereabouts.' It comes amid a rise in kidnappings in South Africa this year, as well as a fatal home invasion and robbery targeting Chinese nationals on May 31. Earlier this month, the Chinese embassy cautioned tourists heading to South Africa for the summer holiday to prioritise their personal safety due to the recent spate of kidnappings. According to Emmanuel Matambo, research director at the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, 'there is a long-standing perception in South Africa that Chinese nationals, entrepreneurs and businessmen and businesswomen keep large amounts of cash in their homes and are loath to use banks'. 'As such, they render themselves vulnerable not only to kidnappings, but home invasions as well,' Matambo said. That view was echoed by Michael McLaggan, an analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime in Cape Town. He said while Mozambican nationals were initially targeted for high-profile kidnappings in South Africa, the increased number of cases now included Pakistanis, Somalis, and in recent years Chinese. According to McLaggan, the crime was being fuelled by 'copycat gangs' who saw kidnapping as a 'low-risk, high-reward endeavour' compared to more dangerous activities like cash-in-transit robberies. He linked this to the growing presence of Chinese nationals in Africa for trade and projects under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. He said many of these individuals ran cash-based businesses or had access to liquid assets. 'Many Chinese business owners may be less likely to use the formal banking system in their country of residence, a common practice in places like South Africa,' McLaggan said. He said this preference for underground banking channels – known as 'feiqian' in China or 'hawala' in Africa and the Middle East – made Chinese nationals more attractive to kidnappers. It meant kidnappers could receive ransom payments quickly and discreetly, he said, and the victim's family did not have to make large bank withdrawals or send wire transfers that could draw the attention of authorities. In addition to South Africa, kidnapping cases involving Chinese nationals have been reported in other African nations including the DR Congo, Nigeria, Ghana and Niger, as well as the Central African Republic and Somalia. In Nigeria, a Chinese expatriate and their Nigerian colleague were abducted from a Kwara State mining site in June, with a demand for 1 billion naira (US$652,400). That followed the kidnapping of a Chinese national in Abuja in April with a 300 million naira ransom demand. In Ghana, three Chinese crew members were rescued in late April after being abducted from a vessel off Tema in March. In Somalia, a Chinese-owned fishing vessel and its 18 crew were hijacked in late 2024, leading to a reported US$2 million ransom payment in January for their release. McLaggan noted it was important to view the kidnappings 'within the broader context of proliferating organised crime and the security environments in these affected countries'.
Sharjah 24
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
ACC commemorates Somali National Day
Somali heritage exhibitions and performances The festival included a Somali heritage exhibition that displayed traditional handmade objects, equipment from Somali life, fabrics, and musical instruments used in Somali songs. A range of traditional Somali foods and desserts produced using locally sourced agricultural ingredients were also on show. The event featured video displays of songs and dances from Somalia's various regions and communities, as well as recitations of well-known Somali poems. Welcome address Nasser Al Darmaki, a board member of the club, began the ceremony with a welcome address, expressing his delight at hosting the Somali community's national festival. He underlined the club's dedication to assisting Arab communities and intellectuals by offering a space for cultural engagement and creativity. Al Darmaki confirmed that this goal is consistent with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who founded the club to serve as a cultural hub. Enhancing UAE-Somali relations Al Darmaki also emphasised the deep kinship links between the UAE and Somalia, which are founded on shared history and culture and deepened over time through mutual cooperation. Somali Ambassador's speech Hussein Abdi Halane, Somali Ambassador to the UAE, gave a speech thanking the club for hosting the event and congratulated the Somali community on its national day. He recalled the Somali people's accomplishments and patriotic togetherness, applauding the community's efforts to preserve strong ties to their motherland. The ambassador praised the Somali community in the UAE for its adherence to local rules and commitment to developing friendship and peace among various resident communities, thereby projecting a favourable picture of Somalia abroad. Tribute to Sheikh Zayed and continued support The envoy also paid tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for launching the UAE's long-standing support for Somalia, stressing that these efforts have grown stronger and more widespread over time. Remarks from the Head of the Somali Community in Ajman Mohammed Abdullah, the Head of the Somali Community in Ajman, emphasised the importance of this national day as a source of pride for Somalis. He elaborated on the Somali community's year-round cultural and social initiatives in the UAE, which aim to strengthen national unity while also fostering harmony and involvement among the country's varied expatriate communities.
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Five men whose shackled bodies washed up on holiday island died at sea after being forced to drink salt water and urine
It turns out the men had been shackled together in a death ritual of some kind HORROR JOURNEY Five men whose shackled bodies washed up on holiday island died at sea after being forced to drink salt water and urine Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FIVE men found dead in the sea off Mallorca with their hands and feet bound starved after drinking their own urine and sea water, distraught relatives have revealed. As suspected, the bodies were those of African migrants who had tried to get to the Spanish holiday island to start a new life in Europe. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The men were packed into a boat trying to cross the Med to get to Europe Credit: D.I. 3 They wave orange signs in an attempt to attract the attention of a passing boat Credit: D.I. 3 The engine on the overloaded boat bust after two days at sea Credit: D.I. There was shock and horror when the five corpses were discovered in the ocean off the Balearics - and it was initially thought they had been murdered while crossing and dumped into the sea. But their families have now revealed they were bound because of a death ritual after they died of starvation on the two week hazardous journey. And they confirmed that they were so hungry and thirsty that they had to resort to drinking their own urine and fatally, sea water. They also ate just one date a day. read more in world news TERROR REIGN Iran's fatwa demanding Trump be CRUCIFIED 'could spark terror attacks in West' Dramatic pictures and a shocking video have been published by Spanish newspaper Diario de Ibiza showing the migrants packed into the tiny boat on the choppy ocean. At one stage, their distress is evident as they wave orange sticks to try and attract passing boats. Their tiny boat had left Algeria and was adrift for two weeks as the engine had broke down during the second day of the crossing. After receiving the survivors, who were between 15 and 27 years old (there were several minors on board), the Red Cross found that most of them had very acute symptoms of dehydration, wounds and infectious symptoms. During their anxiety, they fed themselves with a date a day and most ended up drinking their own urine to survive, since they consumed all the milk and fresh water they had on them. "One of the people had eaten toothpaste because he did not have anything else and did not want to let go of the bottle when he arrived here," the Red Cross explained to the Alicante newspaper Información. Horror in Majorca as at least five bodies with hands and feet shackled are plucked from water off Brit holiday island All the migrants were Somalis, except for the two alleged skippers, who are Nigerian nationals. One of them died during the crossing and the other was arrested by the National Police. He is accused of crimes of organising illegal immigration, reckless homicide, injuries and membership of a criminal organisation. Doctors said those who chose to ingest seawater ended up dying. In addition, the information provided by the Red Cross to the authorities regarding the causes of death of the body that was in the boat also eliminates any theory of a violent death. "The fundamental cause of death is hypoglycemia. Ketoacidosis. Metabolic syndrome," says the communication. Hypoglycemia occurs when glucose levels, the body's main source of energy in the blood, fall below what is healthy for the body. On May 18, ten days after the boat was rescued near Alicante, a handcuffed body arrived on the coast of Formentera. Over the next few weeks, the trickle of corpses continued to total five. They were all wearing an orange vest and were tied hand-and-foot. The brother of one of the survivors of the crossing said that in Islamic tradition, it is customary in Somalia to wrap the body, tie their legs and bend their hands so that they hold each other. The migrants did not have the means to wrap the bodies but they were able to perform these ties, like funeral rites, before throwing the bodies overboard.
The Irish Sun
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Five men whose shackled bodies washed up on holiday island died at sea after being forced to drink salt water and urine
FIVE men found dead in the sea off Mallorca with their hands and feet bound starved after drinking their own urine and sea water, distraught relatives have revealed. As suspected, the Europe . Advertisement 3 The men were packed into a boat trying to cross the Med to get to Europe Credit: D.I. 3 They wave orange signs in an attempt to attract the attention of a passing boat Credit: D.I. 3 The engine on the overloaded boat bust after two days at sea Credit: D.I. There was shock and horror when the five corpses were discovered in the ocean off the Balearics - and it was initially thought they had been murdered while crossing and dumped into the sea. But their families have now revealed they were bound because of a death ritual after they died of starvation on the two week hazardous journey. And they confirmed that they were so hungry and thirsty that they had to resort to drinking their own urine and fatally, sea water. They also ate just one date a day. Advertisement read more in world news Dramatic pictures and a shocking video have been published by Spanish newspaper Diario de Ibiza showing the At one stage, their distress is evident as they wave orange sticks to try and attract passing boats. Their tiny boat had left Algeria and was adrift for two weeks as the engine had broke down during the second day of the crossing. After receiving the survivors, who were between 15 and 27 years old (there were several minors on board), the Red Cross found that most of them had very acute symptoms of dehydration, wounds and infectious symptoms. Advertisement Most read in The Sun During their anxiety, they fed themselves with a date a day and most ended up drinking their own urine to survive, since they consumed all the milk and fresh water they had on them. "One of the people had eaten toothpaste because he did not have anything else and did not want to let go of the bottle when he arrived here," the Red Cross explained to the Alicante newspaper Información. Horror in Majorca as at least five bodies with hands and feet shackled are plucked from water off Brit holiday island All the migrants were Somalis, except for the two alleged skippers, who are Nigerian nationals. One of them died during the crossing and the other was arrested by the National Police . Advertisement He is accused of crimes of organising illegal immigration , reckless homicide, injuries and membership of a criminal organisation. Doctors said those who chose to ingest seawater ended up dying. In addition, the information provided by the Red Cross to the authorities regarding the causes of death of the body that was in the boat also eliminates any theory of a violent death. "The fundamental cause of death is hypoglycemia. Ketoacidosis. Metabolic syndrome," says the communication. Advertisement Hypoglycemia occurs when glucose levels, the body's main source of energy in the blood, fall below what is healthy for the body. On May 18, ten days after the boat was rescued near Alicante, a handcuffed body arrived on the coast of Formentera. Over the next few weeks, the trickle of corpses continued to total five. They were all wearing an orange vest and were tied hand-and-foot. Advertisement The brother of one of the survivors of the crossing said that in Islamic tradition, it is customary in Somalia to wrap the body, tie their legs and bend their hands so that they hold each other. The migrants did not have the means to wrap the bodies but they were able to perform these ties, like funeral rites, before throwing the bodies overboard.
