Somalia: Muslim woman killed for refusing to wear Islamic veil

A Muslim woman has been killed by militant Islamists in Somalia for refusing to wear a veil, her relatives say.

Ruqiya Farah Yarow was killed outside her hut near the southern Somali town of Hosingow by gunmen belonging to the al-Shabab group, they say.

The militants had ordered her to put on a veil, and then killed her after returning and finding she was still not wearing one, the relatives said.

An al-Shabab spokesman denied the group had killed the woman.

Al-Shabab does not fully control the area where she was living, he added

Ruqiya Farah Yarow was killed at about 07:30.

She was shot twice and died instantly, they added.

Ruqiya Farah Yarow is survived by her husband and children, the relatives said.

Al-Shabab, which controls much of southern and central Somalia, imposes strict rules of behaviour, including dress codes for men and women.