Mogadishu WDN) – Forty-four Somali nationals sentenced to life imprisonment for piracy by a special court in Mumbai have appealed to Indian authorities to allow them to serve the remainder of their sentences in Somalia, citing the immense hardship of imprisonment far from their families, language, and culture.
The men became the first individuals convicted under India’s Maritime Anti-Piracy Act of 2022, following their conviction in connection with a piracy-related incident that occurred in 2024. During sentencing proceedings, Li Banm Abdi Jama, the only member of the group reportedly fluent in English, addressed the court on behalf of the prisoners and appealed for their transfer to Somalia.
According to court accounts, he explained that while the inmates respect the prison administration and have no complaints regarding their treatment, they face significant challenges adapting to life in an Indian prison. He cited language barriers, cultural differences, unfamiliar food, and the absence of family support as major difficulties confronting the prisoners. For the inmates, the punishment extends beyond the prison walls themselves.
Separated from their homeland by thousands of kilometers, the men have spent more than two years in detention with limited contact with loved ones. According to Li Banm, communication with family members is now largely restricted to occasional video calls conducted under prison regulations.
The case highlights a broader and often overlooked reality faced by foreign prisoners around the world: incarceration in a country whose language, customs, and social environment are entirely unfamiliar can create additional psychological and emotional burdens beyond the sentence imposed by the court.
Many of the Somali inmates reportedly have no relatives, friends, or support networks in India, leaving them isolated from the communities and family structures that traditionally play a central role in Somali society.
Responding to the request, India’s Special Public Prosecutor Ranjeet Sangle stated that the prisoners may formally pursue a transfer request through the Somali Embassy and prison authorities. However, he emphasized that any final decision rests with the Government of India.
The men have remained in custody since April 2024, and if a transfer arrangement is approved, they could potentially be moved to Somalia under existing prisoner-transfer mechanisms and bilateral legal agreements.
Whether such a transfer will ultimately be granted remains uncertain. For now, the 44 Somali prisoners remain behind bars in a foreign country, hoping that one day they may complete their sentences closer to their families, language, and homeland—a prospect they say would make an already difficult punishment more bearable.
WardheerNews
