St. Paul, Minnesota – The Al-Ihsan Islamic Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, has submitted a letter of support to a Hennepin County District Court judge on behalf of Qalinle Ibrahim Dirie, a 42-year-old Somalian migrant recently convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The letter, dated July 11, seeks leniency for Dirie, who was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the rape of a 12-year-old girl. This development follows Dirie's conviction in May 2025.
Qalinle Ibrahim Dirie was charged in July 2024 after he abducted the young girl from her backyard in Minneapolis and raped her. The criminal complaint detailed the victim's account, stating she was playing in her family's backyard when a man initiated conversation from an alley before the assault occurred. His conviction in May 2025 led to a sentencing that has drawn significant public attention.
The "Community Support Letter for Qalinle Dirie," penned on behalf of "the undersigned members of the Somali community," expressed "strong and heartfelt support" for Dirie. It argued that the convicted felon has faced "the challenge of starting over in a new culture." The letter further described Dirie as an "outgoing, family-oriented person" and an "active volunteer" at the Al-Ihsan Islamic Center, where he regularly attended prayers and community events.
Ahmed Anshur, the executive director of the Al-Ihsan Islamic Center, signed the letter, which was addressed to Hennepin County District Court Judge Michael Burns. The center's communication urged Judge Burns to consider Dirie's character before delivering the sentence. According to the letter, "The situation [Dirie] is currently facing comes as a deep shock to all of us. It does not reflect the man we know — a man whose actions have consistently reflected family and community."
The letter's content and the center's intervention have sparked considerable discussion and media coverage, including a tweet from user TudorBeste stating, "Islamic center pens letter of support for migrant convicted of rape." This public discourse highlights the complex perspectives surrounding legal proceedings involving cultural context and community support for convicted individuals.