We are petitioning to have Jamal Osman’s 'Inside Al- Shabaab' segment removed off of Channel 4 News. Osman’s actions are not only damaging to the image of Somalia, but the people who have and are currently suffering from the terrorist acts of Al-Shabaab. Al Shabaab is a world recognized terrorist organization, who in the past decade has carried out multiple suicide bombings and terrorist attacks that have took the lives of thousands of Somalis. They have also carried out multiple assassinations on many public figures and leaders who have opposed their actions.

Osman's segment has misrepresented the image of Somalia by falsely stating that one third of the country is under the control of Al- Shabaab, a terrorist organization. Osman has been painting Al-Shabaab in a positive image, endorsing their agenda and promoting their regime. Osman, on multiple segments, has attempted to depict Al-Shabaab as saviors, heroes, and as a humanitarian organization that is aiding those who are undergoing famines and droughts. Osman praises their military training and expresses admiration for their leadership. 

On one of his segments, he visits a barber shop where he interviews the owner, a man named Abdirahman, who moved to Jilib – an Al-Shabaab controlled territory. During the interview, he includes clips of Abdirahman listing all the ‘positive’ aspects of living under the control of Al-Shabaab, one of them being that he was able to overcome his drug addiction due to their banning of drugs. 

Osman then proceeds to emphasize that there is ‘little to no crime’ in Jilib due to Al- Shabaab’s ‘security’ presence. He depicts Al-Shabaab as a Muslim organization upholding Islamic principles by separating men and women in public settings and states that they are no ‘longer extreme’ but ‘taking softer approaches’ in implementing punishments. 

He expresses admiration for Al-Shabaab by claiming they are opening dozens of schools and ‘educating the future generations’ by teaching them subjects such as math, computer science and English. He states they are encouraging ‘women to work, girls to go to school and that they don’t force women to cover their faces.’ 

In another one of his segments, he praises Al-Shabaab for building a hospital stating it is because they are ‘worried about the health and safety of the community.’

These segments are glamorizing Al-Shabaab and promoting terrorist ideologies to younger audiences. With your help, we would like to put an end to this false depiction of the impact Al-Shabaab has had on Somalia. 

Below is the link to the Channel 4 Segment on Inside Al-Shabaab for reference.

https://www.channel4.com/news/inside-al-shabaab-the-extremist-group-trying-to-seize-somalia