Minnesota Mosque Sends Support Letter for Convicted Somali Child Rapist

Qalinle Ibrahim Dirie, a Somali immigrant living in Minnesota, was convicted in 2024 of raping a 12-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison. After his conviction, the Al-Ihsan Islamic Center in St. Paul wrote a letter to the sentencing judge expressing strong community support for Dirie, highlighting his volunteer work at the mosque and his efforts to support his family. The letter described Dirie as a family-oriented person who faced challenges adapting to a new culture and asked the judge to consider his character during sentencing. Dirie approached the victim while she was playing in her backyard, abducted her, and sexually assaulted her before she managed to escape. The victim’s family helped set up a sting operation that led to Dirie's arrest. This letter of support from the mosque has drawn attention because it came despite the serious nature of Dirie's crime.