It must be acknowledged that this particular group have come and are continuing to arrive from a country that is war torn and still experiencing fighting between the various tribal clans and armies. As most Somalis are Muslims you can refer to the appropriate section. However, there are some additional factors that you need to be aware of if you are dealing with someone from this region;
Consider:
- It is offensive to gesture with your finger as a way of beckoning or asking someone to come to you. In Somalia this gesture is used only for dogs and not for humans.
- There is a likelihood that you may have some contact with a young Somali who is a recent asylum seeker or refugee and consequently have limited use of the English language.
- A Somali male may become aggressive or extremely embarrassed if confronted by a police officer in front of a Somali woman, as it may be viewed as
Losing Face - Recent asylum seekers and refugees may display some hostility or fear towards a police officer because of the torture and treatment some have received or witnessed from the police in Somalia.
Khatis a plant-based drug that is used amongst Somali men for socialising. It is normally chewed and used as a stimulant. It is currently legal unless it has in some way been prepared or formed into a product, ie the extraction of its active ingredients Cathinone and Cathine, which are both Class C drugs.