BORAMA, Oct 5, 2005 (ANN) – The people of Borama, Awdal region of Somaliland, today commemorated the 2nd anniversary of Annalena Tonelli’s death by inaugurating an additional class of the school of the deaf, one of the many facilities she created before her assassination on October 5, 2003.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new class, Ikram Haji Daud, the newly elected MP, who was instrumental in the building of the class, said that Annalena was a good role model for women and for what they could do for the community. She added that Borama women were ready to do all they could for the well being of the society.

Sheikh Mohammed Saweer who was one of the clerics who helped Annalena in fighting some of the social taboos such women circumcision, known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), hailed the late Annalena's humanitarian works and her modest and dignified personality, saying: "The killing of Annalena was a criminal act that was upfront to the core principles of Islam."

Dr. Abdirahman Jama Hadi, Director of Borama Health Department, described Annalena's contribution to the community's health as "unforgettable." He extended his gratitude to the staff and organizations that operate the facilities established by Annalena, particularly the charitable people of Annalena hometown in Italy .

The Mayor of Borama, Abdirahman Sh. Omar Dahir, also lauded the contribution of Annalena to the health and welfare of the local people. "Annalena has become part of our history and we she will never be forgotten," he said. He also expressed his gratitude to the people who run and maintain the Annalena Center .

The second anniversary of Annalena coincided this year with the arrest in Hargeisa of Abdirahman Indha Adde, considered to be the main suspect of her killing.

He was among eight al Qaeda suspects who were arrested by Somaliland police after a bloody shootout on 22 Sept. 2005 .

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