By, Yousef Timacade, a Lawyer, Legal analyst and Human Rights Defender.
The recent case in Burao involving a Quranic teacher accused of raping two children has exposed a painful truth about our society: we are too quick to protect reputation, and too slow to protect the vulnerable. The tragedy is not only in the crimes reported, but in the community’s reaction, especially from some Quranic teachers who rushed to defend the accused long before understanding the depth of the evidence or the suffering of the victims.
The Office of the Attorney General of Somaliland has released a detailed clarification regarding a rape case that occurred in Burco, Togdheer Region an incident that recently drew significant public attention following widespread media coverage. The case involves a man described as a schoolteacher, who is accused of committing two separate sexual assaults against minors: a nine-year-old boy and an eleven-year-old girl.
According to official record, the first incident took place on 10 April 2025. On that day, the accused allegedly picked up a nine-year-old boy near the central bus station in Burco while driving a white Seinta Toyota car. He reportedly offered the child 20,000 Somaliland shillings in exchange for accompanying him. The suspect then took the child to a shop where he bought him a soft drink. Afterwards, he drove the child to an isolated area on the northern outskirts of the city, where he sexually assaulted him between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The second assault allegedly occurred on 21 April 2025. The accused reportedly encountered an eleven-year-old girl returning from school in the late afternoon. He is said to have lured her into his car, driven her to another remote location, and then raped her. Following the assault, he reportedly returned to a neighbourhood shop where he bought her a drink and refueled his car. CCTV footage from the fuel station later confirmed the presence of the vehicle and the suspect during the time of the incident.
Investigators from the Office of the Attorney General indicate that both children separately identified the same suspect during police line-ups carried out on three different occasions. Medical reports from Burco Hospital further confirm that both children showed physical signs consistent with sexual assault. Additionally, investigators traced a private phone number linked to the accused from the shop where he allegedly purchased refreshments for the children.
Despite this evidence, the Togdheer Regional Court initially released the suspect, stating that although confirmed rape had occurred, there was insufficient evidence proving he was the perpetrator. However, the Togdheer Regional Appeal Court later overturned this decision, finding him guilty on both counts and sentencing him to seven years in prison for each offence. The court also awarded compensation to the victims as part of its ruling. The case remains open for further appeal within 30 days.
In its public statement, the Office of the Attorney General emphasized that the judiciary and prosecutorial institutions operate impartially and do not target any individual or group. The office stressed that all actions taken are based on evidence, legal procedure, and the commitment to uphold the rights of victims and ensure equal application of the law across Somaliland.
Let us make one thing clear: a Quranic teacher is not the Qur’an. He is a human being, fallible, capable of error, and fully accountable for his actions. Yet many responded as if questioning the teacher meant questioning the Qur’an itself. This confusion, this merging of a man with the divine scripture, is not only dangerous, it is profoundly un-Islamic.
Silence has long been the first refuge of communities confronted with abuse especially when it involves respected figures like religious teachers. In places like Burao, the instinct is to protect institutions rather than the children who depend on them. This pattern is old, predictable, and devastating: allegations are dismissed, victims are doubted, and the accused is sheltered behind reputation. Yet beneath the surface lies a painful truth, each act of denial deepens the wounds of those already harmed, teaching them that their suffering is less important than an adult’s honor.
What makes this case even more painful is not only what the children went through, but how some people reacted afterward. Instead of waiting to understand what happened, many leaders quickly defended the teacher. They did not stop to consider that children might have been harmed. This kind of response sends a dangerous message in Somaliland: even if a child brings evidence, even if their story is consistent, and even if doctors confirm injuries, their voice can still be dismissed. In a society that claims to value justice and Islamic fairness, ignoring children is a second wound one that can last far longer than the crime itself.
Real justice means more than protecting the reputation of respected adults. It means listening to those who have the least power. Yes, the accused has the right to a fair trial, but children also have the right to be heard, supported, and protected. In this case, evidence was presented, experts spoke, and both children told consistent stories, yet many people still refused to accept their suffering. The strength of any community is shown by how it treats its most vulnerable, not how quickly it shields authority figures. For Burao and Somaliland as a whole the real question is whether we will continue denying the truth or finally accept that justice must apply to everyone, or it is not justice at all.
In recent years, some religious groups in Somaliland have promoted a troubling interpretation of the Sexual Offences Bill, a doctrine they frame as protecting the dignity of “decent men,” but which in practice has been used to argue that certain respected individuals should not be arrested even when accused of sexual violence. These same groups were among the most vocal opponents of the progressive Sexual Offenses Bill, a law specifically designed to protect women and children from rape, assault, and exploitation. Their resistance helped stall reforms that would have strengthened investigations, improved survivor support, and ensured accountability for perpetrators. The result is a system where cultural prestige can overshadow justice, leaving victims especially women and children unprotected. Until these attitudes change, Somaliland remains an extremely unsafe place for those most vulnerable to sexual violence
