Somali Pirates Jailed for Life in India Plead to Serve Sentences Closer to Home

Mogadishu WDN) – Forty-four Somali nationals sentenced to life imprisonment for piracy by a special court in Mumbai have appealed to Indian authorities to allow them to serve the remainder of their sentences in Somalia, citing the immense hardship of imprisonment far from their families, language, and culture.

The men became the first individuals convicted under India’s Maritime Anti-Piracy Act of 2022, following their conviction in connection with a piracy-related incident that occurred in 2024. During sentencing proceedings, Li Banm Abdi Jama, the only member of the group reportedly fluent in English, addressed the court on behalf of the prisoners and appealed for their transfer to Somalia.

According to court accounts, he explained that while the inmates respect the prison administration and have no complaints regarding their treatment, they face significant challenges adapting to life in an Indian prison. He cited language barriers, cultural differences, unfamiliar food, and the absence of family support as major difficulties confronting the prisoners. For the inmates, the punishment extends beyond the prison walls themselves.

Separated from their homeland by thousands of kilometers, the men have spent more than two years in detention with limited contact with loved ones. According to Li Banm, communication with family members is now largely restricted to occasional video calls conducted under prison regulations.