Friday July 10, 2026
Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland security forces have detained young musician Khalid Mohamud Abdillahi, known as Khalid Kamil, after he recorded a song about Jerusalem, his family said on Thursday.
Kamil has been held for two weeks without trial, according to his brother, Abdimajid Mohamud Abdillahi.
“They arrested Khalid at his home,” Abdimajid said. “The intelligence accused him of singing a song about Jerusalem that he had not yet released.”
He said the family was told Kamil was being held because of the song, but argued that the lyrics were not directed against Somaliland.
“The security services told us that Khalid was being held for a song, but since the song was not about Somaliland, but about Jerusalem, we saw that someone was pushing or behind the arrest,” Abdimajid said.
Somaliland authorities have not publicly commented on the arrest or the family’s allegations.
Somaliland’s opposition KAAH party condemned the detention Thursday, calling it a violation of basic freedoms and part of a wider effort to silence criticism of the government’s policy toward Israel.
“The arrest of artists, journalists and citizens for expressing their views and creativity undermines the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the constitution,” the party said.
KAAH called on the government to release Kamil immediately and end what it described as intimidation of artists and members of the creative community.
The party said democratic governance should be based on respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression, not arrests and repression.
Somaliland has previously arrested religious leaders, elders, journalists, and youth activists who opposed the idea of Israel recognizing Somaliland. Some of those arrested were later released without trial.
The song, which has not been officially released but has circulated on social media, praises Jerusalem, known in Arabic as Al-Quds, and refers to the city’s religious significance.
According to Kamil’s brother, the lyrics include lines saying Jerusalem “has been stolen” and criticizing those who remain silent over what the song describes as a crime.
The arrest comes after Somaliland opened a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem in June, six months after Israel reportedly recognized Somaliland as an independent state.
The mission, located in a technology hub in West Jerusalem, was opened during an official visit by Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi to Israel.
During the visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was a “deep spiritual connection” between the two sides.
Somalia’s federal government, which considers Somaliland part of its territory, condemned the engagement with Israel and said any contact with what it called a separatist administration violated Somalia’s sovereignty.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but lacks broad international recognition. Somalia maintains that Somaliland remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Jerusalem is one of the world’s most contested cities and holds deep religious significance for Muslims, Christians and Jews.
Israel considers Jerusalem its capital, while Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Most of the international community has not recognized Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.
- With files from the BBC Somali Service
