Hawa Feminist Coalition strongly condemns the violent attack against Ms. Marian Mohamed Hussein, Co-Founder and Programs Officer of Hawa Feminist Coalition, who was attacked in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, on 19 May 2026.
Ms. Marian is a feminist activist and a frontline advocate for the rights, dignity and empowerment of women and girls in Somalia. We are deeply concerned that the attack was reportedly linked to hostility toward her feminist activism and followed inflammatory narratives and mobilization against feminism.
In recent years, feminist activists and women’s rights organizations in Somalia have faced increasing hostility, misinformation, online harassment, threats and intimidation. Feminism is frequently misrepresented as a foreign ideology that is incompatible with Somali culture or Islamic values. Such narratives distort the work of Somali feminist movements, which are rooted in the pursuit of equality, dignity, justice, safety and fundamental rights for women and girls.
Hawa Feminist Coalition has itself experienced repeated digital attacks, threats, harassment and hateful comments directed at our organization and members through social media and other platforms. The attack against Ms. Marian represents a serious escalation of these threats and highlights the risks faced by women human rights defenders and feminist activists carrying out legitimate and peaceful advocacy.
Hawa Feminist Coalition calls on the relevant law-enforcement authorities in Puntland to conduct a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the attack, hold those responsible accountable in accordance with the law, and ensure the safety and protection of Ms. Marian and other women’s rights defenders.
We further call on religious leaders, community leaders, public institutions, civil society organizations and media actors to reject incitement, hate speech and violence against feminist activists and women human rights defenders, and to promote respectful dialogue and the peaceful expression of different views.
Hawa Feminist Coalition stands firmly in solidarity with Ms. Marian and all women and girls who face intimidation or violence because of their work to advance equality and human rights.
We wish Ms. Marian, a valued colleague and member of our movement, a full and speedy recovery from the injuries sustained in the attack.
An attack on a women’s rights defender or young feminist activist must never be normalized. Women and girls have the right to speak, organize and advocate for their rights without fear of violence, intimidation or retaliation.
BY ALL TEAM
Hawa Feminist Coalition
