MOGADISHU: Hardline Islamic courts have barred residents in parts of the Somali capital from watching the World Cup, prompting scores of civilians to protest the ban, residents said on Sunday.
They claim that gunmen, allied to the Joint Islamic Courts, forced three cinema halls to shut and warned football lovers against watching the matches which were being relayed through satellite dishes from Germany.
"The Islamic courts have ordered the closure of three cinema halls," said Sukahola resident Abdulaziz Hanad said.
"They want to make sure that nobody in Mogadishu watches the World Cup."
Witnesses said scores of disgruntled civilians staged a brief demonstration in northern Mogadishu to protest against the ban.
Last year, the courts started to forcefully close cinema halls, arguing that they were showing steamy Bollywood and Hollywood films, which have been translated into the Somali language, to children, which is an apparent violation of the Islamic teachings.
Last Monday, the Islamists defeated the warlords and seized control of most of Mogadishu, sparking fears of a Taliban-like takeover, with the forcible imposition of Sharia law.
