A/HRC/15/48 highlighted once again the severe nature of abuses committed in areas which are under the control of Al–Shabaab or other armed groups. B. Abuses by armed groups in areas under their control 19. Between April and early July, United Nations human rights workers recorded reports of nine executions by firing squad or stoning by Al–Shabaab mostly for alleged spying or murder, five cases of amputation, mostly of suspected thieves, and the flogging or whipping of some 28 individuals on the orders of courts set up by these groups. Whatever the accusation against the persons concerned, these cases amount to violations of the right to life and physical integrity and the right to due process, given the summary nature of the proceedings against the accused. Often the punishments were carried out in public. In addition, seven cases of beheading were reported, including five workers allegedly killed in April 2010 because they were involved in reconstruction work at the Parliament. 20. Some of the reported violations occurred in the context of orders issued by Hizbul Islam and Al–Shabaab, restricting social behaviour or dress codes, such as bans on playing music or watching football issued by Al–Shabaab and Hizbul Islam. In one case, two people were allegedly shot dead on 12 June 2010 when they fled Hizbul Islam, which had raided a home in Mogadishu where fans were watching a football World Cup game and captured dozens of those present. In another case, three women were allegedly captured and beaten by Al–Shabaab for failing to wear the abaya in June. 21. A recent example of the nature of physical punishment being imposed by Islamist militants in areas under their control is the reported whipping with 50 lashes, imposed on 30 July 2010 on a 31–year–old man, originally from Gaalkacyo, who was arrested by members of Al–Shabaab when he was found chewing khat in Ayub, Warsheikh district. There have been reports of other more serious punishments meted out to “offenders” in Al– Shabaab–controlled areas, including one in which the tongue of a young man was allegedly cut out. 22. In a press statement released on 10 August 2010 after completion of his recent mission to the region, the independent expert urged the international community to “explore all possible means to stop summary executions, including beheadings of innocent people, amputations; floggings, whippings, forcible marriages of young girls to militiamen, the use of civilians as human shields, the imposition of strictest dress code for women and the prohibition of public mass media and the bans imposed on listening to music and public gathering, all with lack of due process.”2 Threats and intimidation transmitted in person, by order or via mobile phones have become routine for many and form part of the panoply of measures used to impose the armed group’s power. C. Right to freedom of expression 23. The media continued to be targeted, mostly by the insurgents Al–Shabaab and Hizbul Islam. In Mogadishu, media houses were caught between Hizbul Islam, who in April 2010 ordered all radio stations to stop playing music, and the Benadir Administration which threatened to close down any radio station that obeyed the music ban. One radio station was raided on 14 April 2010 by Hizbul Islam. Another local radio station was raided by Al–Shabaab on 21 May 2010 and equipment was taken away. At least three journalists were held briefly during this period by Hizbul Islam. Eight others were wounded when a 2 See http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=10269&LangID=E. 7