Bad News from Somalia

Originally posted at Female Impersonator
A Somali town has banned women from working.

On Tuesday, the Al shabaab administration in southern Somalia’s Kismayo town banned women from working — despite the imperative of providing for their families. Al shabab, the islamist insurgent group, has imposed a strict form of Sharia law over much of southern Somalia.

This is bad news not just for the women who are being oppressed by this, but for the Somalia economy in general. Giving women economic power is proven smart economics yet sexism has overridden both good ethics and good business strategy here. Here’s hoping the town reverses this ridiculous ban soon.