"The Islamic courts have ordered the closure of three cinema halls," said
Sukahola resident Abdulaziz Hanad told AFP. "They want to make sure that nobody
in Mogadishu watches the World Cup."
"Since the Islamic courts took control of Mogadishu, we knew they would not
allow us to watch football," said a dejected Dahir Abubakar Hassan, a resident
of northern Mogadishu.
"I wanted to entertain myself from the trials and tribulations of the
monotonous life in Mogadishu by watching the World Cup, but now I am not
allowed," complained Halan Ahmed Mohamed, one of the protestors.
"It is too silly to oppress people like this."
The courts started to forcefully close cinema halls last year, arguing they
were showing steamy Bollywood and Hollywood films.
Last Monday, the Islamists defeated the warlords and seized control of most
of Mogadishu, sparking fears of a Taliban-like takeover, with the forcible
imposition of Sharia law, but the court's leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said
he would not impose the laws unless civilians called for them.
Somalia pulled out of international sporting events after the country plunged
into anarchy following the violent ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in
1991.
But residents in other pockets of Mogadishu still under control of the
warlords gathered in makeshift cinema halls and watched the tournament that was
being relayed from Germany through satellite dishes.
In the remaining warlords' stronghold of Jowhar, about 90 kilometres (55
miles) north of Mogadishu, residents gathered in public cinema halls to watch
the 32-nation tournament, an AFP correspondent said.
"If only they can hold the peace for one month and allow us to watch
football," Hassan Omar, a teenager in Jowhar told AFP.
In the seat of the impotent and fractured Somali government in Baidoa, about
250 kilometres (155) miles northwest of the capital, residents were not allowed
to watch the 10.00 pm (1900 GMT) World Cup match because of a curfew.
Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir said anybody who violates the curfew
-- which runs from 9:00 PM (1800 GMT) to 5:00 am (0200 GMT), shall be sentenced
to one to three months in jail with a fine of between 1,500,000 Somali shillings
(U.S.$1,080) and 3,000,000 shillings (U.S.$2,160).
