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Teenage Somali Pirate Totally Psyched to Be Famous, Alive

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Photo by Louis Lanzano for the A.P.
The lone teenage Somali survivor of the pirate crew who hijacked the Maersk Alabama a couple weeks back was escorted, smiling, into New York City last night for his court date this morning. Abduhl Wali-i-Musi is either 16 or 18, depending on who you ask, but look how happy he seems! This is his chance at reality TV stardom, or maybe a record deal! Or perhaps it is just a cultural thing, and his are a frequently smiling people. Yes, that must be it. No one told him that one is supposed to look repentant and/or emotionless while being escorted into prison by federal officials.


Anyway, we especially love how neither the New York Times nor the Associated Press can be sure that whoever they're getting on the phone over there in Somalia is actually related to this kid.


“I appeal to President Obama to pardon my teenager,” the mother, Adar Abdirahman Hassan, said to The A.P. from her home in Galkayo, Somalia. “I request him to release my son or at least allow me to see him and be with him during the trial.”

A man identified by The A.P. as the teen’s father, Abdiqadir Muse, said the pirates lied to his son, telling him they were going to get money. The family is penniless, he said. (His spelling of the family name differed from that in the court documents, The A.P. reported.)

Abduhl was injured during the big U.S. rescue operation, and was already captured when his three Somali compatriots were killed by sharpshooters.

In related news, South Park is rolling out its pirate episode tomorrow night:

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By Jay Barmann in on April 21, 2009 9:29 AM

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