A British girl has been beaten, starved and chained to the floor at an Islamic detention centre in Somalia after being ‘abducted’ from the UK by her own mother.
Asmaa Hassan Abdullahi, 18, has posted horrifying footage on social media platform TikTok which reveals she was thrown into one of the country’s strict ‘re-education’ units over fears she had become ‘too Westernised’.
She has made repeated pleas to be brought back to the UK and has made attempts to escape the centre and two others where she was previously placed.
On her most recent attempt to flee – last week – she was returned to her mother and stepfather by the Somalian police, despite her begging commanders to take her to the British Embassy in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Images posted by Asmaa reveal she has suffered a broken arm and bruising, and is forced to endure chains around her ankles. She has been denied food and lost significant amounts of weight and has had her head shaved as a humiliating punishment.
Her distraught family in Britain say the teenager, who was born in Coventry and had never been to Somalia, was tricked into travelling to the east African nation by her mother, Sagal Maxamud Roble, on the pretence of a holiday.
Her three half-siblings from Ms Roble’s previous marriage, who live in London, have said they are liaising with the Foreign Office in a bid to bring her home.
They say her removal was ‘a kind of abduction’ and that they are extremely concerned for her safety.
Asmaa Hassan Abdullahi, 18, who has made repeated pleas to be brought back to the UK, is seen with chains around her ankles
On her most recent attempt to flee, Asmaa (pictured) was returned to her mother and stepfather by the Somalian police, despite her asking to go to the British Embassy
Her distraught family in Britain say the teenager was tricked into travelling to Somalia by her mother, Sagal Maxamud Roble (pictured), on the pretence of a holiday
Asmaa’s eldest brother, Mohamed Abdullahi Adaawe said: ‘I get teary when I see the videos. I’m in pieces. I just want to know if she is safe. All Asmaa wants to do is come back to the UK and get out of Somalia. Asmaa had never been to Somalia before.’
Asmaa’s plight shines a light on a widespread, but little-reported issue within the British-Somali community, many of whom fled to escape civil war and famine.
But cultural differences mean hundreds of Somali children – mainly teenagers – have been tricked into going back to Somalia by their parents, then placed in the prison-like detention centres, known as dhaqan celis, which means ‘return to [Somali] culture’.
It is understood beatings and punishments are commonplace, and that some pupils are subject to sexual abuse by male teachers.
Parents have been known to keep their daughters in such centres for years, where they can become victims of female genital mutilation and be forced into marriages.
Asmaa’s videos, which have gone viral, have prompted the launch of a social media campaign, #justiceforaasma, after thousands condemned the abuse.
Asmaa, who was brought up in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, was 15 and studying for her GCSEs three years ago when Ms Roble told her the family – which included her younger brother and sister – they were heading back to Somalia for a short holiday.
But once they arrived in Mogadishu, it became clear the move was permanent when her mother announced she was getting married again. Asmaa’s father, who lives in Germany, had divorced Ms Roble years earlier.
Asmaa, who was brought up in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, was 15 and studying for her GCSEs three years ago when she was taken to Somalia
A picture shows Asmaa has had her head shaved as a humiliating punishment
At her most recent institution, Asmaa has injuries on her body, including her chin, as a result of beatings
Photographs sent to her siblings also reveal a broken left arm
Asmaa made friends with other ‘diaspora teenagers’, who had previously lived in Western countries like the UK, Sweden and the US.
But two years ago, Ms Roble placed her daughter in a detention centre, apparently believing she was picking up Western habits.
Asmaa managed to run away from two such centres, and once jumped from a balcony to escape. But each time she was caught and returned to her mother.
The most significant abuse was meted out in her third and most recent institution, where footage reveals injuries on her body, including her chin, as a result of beatings.
Photographs sent to her siblings also reveal a broken left arm.
Mr Adaawe said Asmaa had managed to escape last week and fled to the local police station, where she begged the police chief to take her to the British embassy.
But the police chief was persuaded to hand Asmaa back to Ms Roble and Asmaa’s stepfather.
Ms Roble did not comment on Saturday.
But a close friend said: ‘These rehab centres are registered with the Somali government.
‘Her and her mother agreed to take her there, but later she complained, experienced some difficulties, and that’s why there is an investigation.
‘The case is with the Somali government. Asmaa is safe and sound.’
On Saturday, a Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘It is long standing policy not to comment on individual cases.’