Somali Law Experts in UK Discuss Future Parliament of Somalia

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

Somali law experts, intellectuals and journalists based in the UK held a lengthy symposium to discuss on matters relating to the selection of the country's future parliament and sent strong messages to the national constituent assembly to come up with responsible members to vote for the country's next constitution.

The symposium held in Tottenham neighborhood north of London this week assembled at least 20 high profile individuals from various sectors of the community including prominent football coach Dr. Abdi Olad Raghe and high profile journalist Mohamed Haji Ingiriis.

The symposium called on the national constituent assembly to make changes on the controversial articles in the new Somali draft constitution. It also urged Somali clan elders to select responsible parliament to implement free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections in Somalia.

The symposium which was the first of its kind ever held here in UK supported the accusations of embezzlement and corruption suggested against Somali government leaders by the UN Somalia Monitoring Group.

Somali law expert Isse Ahmed Warsame and Dr. Abdi Olad Rage who first addressed at the symposium outlined the importance of such congregations in a bid to put Somalia out of the long-running problems. Both men jointly organized the meeting.

"Taking advantage from this opportunity and on behalf of the organizers of this event I would like to call on the Somalis in the UK and elsewhere in the world to play a key role on how our country can successfully grow from the transitional period," Warsame said adding that such symposium was meant to give constructive consultations to the national constituent assembly.

Avv. Abdirahman Hajji Ga'al and Avv. Hussein Dirie Afrah emphasized that such symposium is important at the moment to give awareness and constructive suggestions to the national constituent assembly before announcing its last decisions.

Civil society campaigner and law expert Omar Mohamed Abdulle urged that a lasting solution must be found for three main controversial matters in the constitution relating to the religion, the power of regional semiautonomous administrations and the country's capital.

"They must clearly say that our religion is Islam and no other religion can be spread in Somalia and the capital is Mogadishu-the constitution must be in line with our religion nothing else is acceptable to the Somali people" he emphasized.

The symposium called on the national Constituent Assembly that the vote of the new constitution must be comprehensive and reliable.

The future parliament members must get their monthly salaries to help them get far from corruption.

The Symposium co-organizers Isse Ahmed Warsame and Dr. Abdi Olad Rage said they were grateful to participants for contributing very constructive ideas and suggestions during the symposium. Participants include:

1. Avv. Issa Ahmed Warsame

2. Dr. Abdi Olad Rage

3. Avv. Abdirahman Haji Gacal

4. Avv. Xussen Diriye Afrah

5. Avv. Omar Abdulle "Dhagey"

6. Avv. Mohamed H. Mohamud

7. Abdihakim Moalim

8. Dr. Dahir Tifow

9. Eng. Ali Ibrahim Elmi

10. Najib Abdulah

11. Eng. Abdullahi Abdi Sheik-Ail

12. Mohamed Isse Ali "Digeye"

13. Hussein Tohow

14. Mohamed Ingiriis

15. Hagi Ali Hagi

16. Ali Jimcaale

17. Abdullahi Muhudin Mohamed

18. Abdullahi Ilmi Ereg

19. Abdinasir Ali gurey

20. Abdifatah Hassan

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze. Read more stories by Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar.

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