After an encounter with a Taxi driver in Nairobi who was a victim of the oppressive Meles Regime, the British-Somali students had a strong urge to visit the families who fled the Somali region of Ethiopia to northern Kenya. They had no clue how this journey would impact their lives! Moreover, how it would also change the lives of Somalis around the world.

Silent Cry had many heart breaking stories of Somalis who are literally living a horrible life and a constant torture. Yet, the mass majority of people ignore these events and the death of my people. The Ethiopian Government has gone as far as denying any of these horrendous human right violations. In fact, Meles Zenawi has called the deaths, torture, and rape that victims in the Somali Region have suffred simply as “allegations” that do not have any evidence what so ever.

Does the rape of a Somali woman by nine Ethiopian Soldiers not satisfy the Ethiopian Government to take any action? What about the four-year-old Rooble who has no clue where his parents are?  How about Mahad, another child who is an orphan thanks to the Meles Regime? What about Eglan, the nine-year-old girl who is in desperate need for medical attention, yet she does not even have food to eat? Perhaps the compelling images of Somali men whose fingers were chopped off would convince Mr. Zenawi regime that these are not allegations but rather a simple fact! These are just some of the images Silent Cry presented to its audience.

As much as I blame the Ethiopian Government for carrying out such atrocious actions against Somalis in that region, I equally blame Somalis everywhere! We have been too silent for so long, that today our people are crying in silence and no one, I mean no one, cares about them.

When the issues of Darfur and Rwanda was presented to the world, people from different paths of the world come together to fight for them and become their voices! Why should the issues of Somalis in Ethiopia be any different one might ask? Well, my answer to that question really lies on how we Somalis are so divided and hold on to the grudges of the past! Our voices have become tribal based rather than for Somalis! Nothing pierces my heart more than seeing our people back home or in the developing world suffering because the Somali Diaspora are so tribe based and narrow minded when it comes to spreading awareness, and helping them! When will we take the historical route of unifying ourselves and fighting for our people rather than for tribes?

I highly recommend ALL Somalis to write to the Silent Cry team and thank them for being the brave souls and incredibly team they are! Also, invite them to your state or country and show this heart-wrenching documentary to spread awareness!  So that the International Community becomes involved and the Ethiopian government is urged to stop what could become the next genocide under our watch as humans.

Without one bit of sarcasm, I would also suggest someone to send this documentary to Zenawi to enlighten him and show him the evidence of the truth that he simply chooses to ignore! What more could we expect of a leader who tortures his own people and imprison them for being the voice of the voiceless?

I urge my fellow Somalis to stop shedding crocodile tears, and start standing up to end the plight of Somalis. How would you feel if nine men, or worse men in uniform who pledge to heal a nation rather than destroy it raped your mother, sister, or daughter? How would you feel if your body parts were mutilated? Or perhaps have your houses burnt down? These are not fictional ideas, but rather what is happening now in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.

Let’s help people who deserve our help the most, rather than use tribe as a qualification to help people. The official website for Silent cry is http://www.silentcry.co.uk/. Please lend a helping hand to the ones on this earth and show your mercy towards them, so your Lord will bestow mercy on you when you need it the most, inshAllah.
 
This event has profoundly affected my life and has placed an image in my mind that will forever serve as a reminder when I feel ungrateful for the opportunities Allah Ta’aal has bestowed on me, and whenever I spend a dime.

Halima Ali Ahmed
Email: halimaahmedd@gmail.com
WardheerNews contributor

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Other articles by Halima

-My reflection on the 1st Annual Somali Diaspora Youth Conference By Halima Ahmed

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