Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi

Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi
Nationality	Somalian, Kenyan
Occupation(s)	Journalist, human rights activist
Known for	Women's rights, children's rights

Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi is a Somali journalist and human rights activist. She focuses in particular on the rights of women and children. She is a dual citizen of Somalia and Kenya.

Activism

Abdi is the capacity building officer for the Coalition of Grassroots Women's Organizations and chairperson of the Somali Chapter of the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect. Abdi works for easier access to education for Somali women.^[1]

Kidnapping

In 2004, while in charge of information for the Association of Somali Women Journalists, Abdi was abducted and held by armed individuals from 24 October to the 25th in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. She believes that she was kidnapped because of her activities in defense of children.^[2]

2016 terrorism allegations

In October 2016, Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi went on trial in Kenya's High Court.^[3] She was accused of bombing a police station in Mombasa.^[4]

The lawsuit was denounced by the organization Cage Africa as the lawyers of the four activists concerned were not allowed to present evidence to challenge the charges. The activists are reported to have been subject to invasive strip searches.^[5]

References

1. Mohamed (30 November 2008). "Human Rights Activists Pressure International Community to Address the Somali Crisis". Mshale. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
2. "Une journaliste brièvement kidnappée à Mogadiscio". Reporters Without Borders (in French). 25 October 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
3. Bwana, Joackim (25 September 2016). "Three girls charged for concealing information about police raid". Hiiraan Online. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
4. Oketch, Willis. "Three more women held in Mombasa terror probe". The Standard. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
5. Azfar (13 October 2016). "CAGE Africa calls for fair trial for Kenyan women arrested under terrorism laws". CAGE. Retrieved 16 September 2022.