Somalia: Al-Shabab bans bell rings for schools | Before It's News

Contributed by Abdulkarim Jimale (Reporter)
Thursday, April 15, 2010 8:04
Mogadishu, Thursday, April 15, 2010 (BIN) – Al-Shabab the Somali militant group banned bell rings for schools in southern Somalia on Thursday, because they say it sounds too similar to those of Christian churches.
Al-Shabab, the Al-Qaeda wing in Somalia has ordered schools in Jowhar town of middle Shabelle region about 90km north of capital to stop using bells to signal the end of classes. The group said the bell ring sounds like those of Christian churches.
According to Reuters teachers and a school headmaster in Shabaab-controlled Jowhar town, said an Al-Shabaab member had ordered schools to silence their bells because the sound was too similar to those in Christian churches.
"We were called by Sheikh Farah, the head of Al Shabaab's education, and he told us that we can't use bell sounds from now on. He said any school heard using bell sounds after now will be brought to Islamic justice," a school teacher in Jowhar told Reuters by telephone.
The militias are the most powerful rebel group in Somalia and controls large parts in south and central regions including large parts of the restive capital Mogadishu.
The group is fighting UN-backed government to control Somalia.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991 when clan warlords overthrown Siad Barre’s administration.