Islamist Group in Somalia Bans Samosas For Being Offensive

Various sources out of Somalia are noting last week’s militant Islamist fighters in Somalia taking to their vehicles, mounted with loudspeakers, to announce a bizarre ruling banning samosas across parts of the war-torn country they control. The al-Shabaab group has banned samosas after finding them ‘offensive’ and too Christian.

Samosas have been served for centuries in the region, and the unexpected move means Somalis could now expect to be punished if “caught cooking, buying or eating samosas, known locally as sambusas” [DailyMail]. While no specifics have been released behind the ban’s reasoning, it is thought that the samosa’s three-sided figure bares resemblance to the symbol of the Christian Holy Trinity.

Al-Shabaab’s organization is linked to al-Qaeda and has command of several provinces of Somalia, currently in battle with the country’s official government for total control. While Samosas may seem like a trivial topic, the ban comes amidst a series of other authoritarian rulings, including the ban on playing or watching of football mandated earlier this year.

Millions face death by starvation in the area, with the UN declaring a famine in two parts of the country and the al-Shabaab group denying aid groups access to the country.