Shocking photos of a group of at least 20 bodies found in northeastern Kenya have been circulating on Twitter, prompting authorities to respond to accusations of murdering ethnic Somalis, reports BBC.
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Last year, Human Rights Watch released a report, documenting the alleged killings of Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police unit.
In response to the attacks by Somali-based Islamic terrorist group al-Shabab on Kenyan soil, police have allegedly targeted Somalis by conducting extrajudicial killings in the region. The murders have reportedly led to a number of disappearances.
And while the police reject the allegations, photos of the remains of a group of people, including a Mother of five who was arrested Friday, have gone viral on the Internet, inspiring the hashtag #StopKillingSomalis.
Warning: The below tweets are both graphic and disturbing:
Mass graves found in #Mandera. Victims include a mother of 5 kids. #StopKillingSomalis pic.twitter.com/sI78eHIV0S
— Ahmed Mohamed™ (@asmali77) December 7, 2015
Mandera mass grave with 12 bodies revives extrajudicial killings claims https://t.co/59PJm69GPq #StopKillingSomalis pic.twitter.com/URCNFg9IBh — The Star, Kenya (@TheStarKenya) December 7, 2015
#stopkillingsomalis I ask all kenyan it’s of high time we look into this issues of mass graves in NEP part of Kenya pic.twitter.com/g29tt0kj7J — It’s Haji (@noordin44) December 7, 2015
#StopKillingSomalis you are our leaders what are u doing abt this? @abdikaderore @HonAdenDuale @MahamudMM @bkerrow pic.twitter.com/wNf4c1GFAC
— abdinassir adan (@Counsel_Nassir) December 7, 2015
In response to the photographs, many Kenyans have tweeted in support of Somalis, insisting that the government’s alleged targeting of ethnic Somalis needs to stop:
Justice for innocent mothers and children who are relentlessness killed in cold blood in North eastern Kenya #StopKillingSomalis — Ahmed Omar (@ahmedvision1) December 7, 2015
No murder, whether by terrorist or government can be justified. Somali is a Kenyan tribe just like luo and kikuyu #StopKillingSomalis — TheUNBowedKE (@ItsAmadala) December 7, 2015
This is not a war on terror, it’s war against humankind. War against a community. #StopKillingSomalis
— Ahmed Mohamed™ (@asmali77) December 7, 2015
#StopKillingSomalis , they are kenyan citizens too!! contributing to the Economy by paying taxes and Creating employment.
— Mbiu (@Mbiupeter2) December 7, 2015
And while the General of Police Joseph Boinnet did indeed confirm the death of the deceased Mother (pictured in final tweet), he rejected the existence of a mass grave, which the photographs suggest.
The bodies were reportedly found by a herder who noticed jackals in the area as he searched for his animals.
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