Waagacusub.com The militant group Al-Shabaab has said it had carried out a daring zakat distribution exercise near Mogadishu distributing zakat in the form of cash dollars to dozens of the capital residents.

Al-Shabaab’s office for Zakat distribution stated it had distributed thousands of dollars to hundreds of Mogadishu’s low-income residents.

The event was astonishingly graced by senior Al-Shabaab officials including the group’s main spokesman Sheikh Ali Dheere. Photos posted on pro-Al-Shabaab websites showed the militant officials handing over cash dollars to the recipients of the alms who comprised of women, men, elderly and disabled people as well. A billboard at the background carried the message "The zakat distribution project by the Islamic administration of Banadir region.”
Speaking at the event, Sheikh Ali Dheere stated the zakat money was distributed among the poor after having been collected from the rich.

The development comes amid increased concern over Al-Shabaab’s emerging return of presence in parts of the capital. The group has in recent past intensified its military operations in and around Mogadishu.