The Al-Ihsan Islamic Center said Dirie has faced "the challenge of starting over in a new culture."

An Islamic center in St. Paul, Minn. has written a letter of support to lessen the sentence of a Somalian child rapist. The man abducted the 12-year-old girl from her backyard, bashed her over the head, and transported her in his car, where he raped her before she was able to escape.

Qalinle Dirie, 42, was convicted for raping the girl and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was found guilty by a jury trial of first-degree sexual conduct. After the conviction, the Al-Ihsan Islamic Center submitted letters of support for Dirie.

Judge Burns sentenced Dirie to the least amount of time permissible under Minnesota law: 12 years. Dirie will also have to register as a predatory offender. He is eligible for parole in 2033, four years ahead of the 12 years, and would be on parole for the rest of the term. 

Dirie was born in Somalia and grew up in refugee camps in Kenya before coming to the US in 2006. He's been living permanently in Minnesota for over 10 years and sends remittances home to his family in Somalia.

The Al-Ihsan Islamic Center said Dirie has faced "the challenge of starting over in a new culture." They referred to the rape and conviction as "this situation" and said that Ahmed Anshur, the executive director of the center who had signed the letter, had "witnessed his love for his family and kids." 

The center said that Dirie "has also been an active volunteer in our mosque, Al-Ihsan Islamic Center, where he regularly visited during Friday prayers, Ramadan, and community events. You’ll often find him helping elders find rides home or staying after to help clean up. His service has never been about recognition — just a quiet commitment to supporting the spaces that hold our community together."

For the Islamic center, that's a good enough reason to support a child rapist. 

Alpha News detailed the complaint against Dirie:

"In July of 2024, Dirie was charged with raping a 12-year-old girl. According to the criminal complaint in the case, the victim said she was playing in the backyard of her family’s home in Minneapolis when a man started talking to her from an alley behind the house. The man reportedly asked if the victim’s mother was home, and the victim said she was not.

"Court documents say the man left the scene for a few minutes but returned, putting his hand over her mouth, forcing her into a car, and striking her over the head. The victim said the man drove a short distance away from the home, pulled over, and sexually assaulted her. Eventually, the victim was able to run home.

The rapist's family submitted letters of support to the judge saying that child rapist Qalinle Dirie "is a deeply good man whose presence enriches the lives of those around him." That letter "respectfully ask[ed] that [the judge] consider his character, contributions, and ongoing potential" when making a decision in the case.

"The situation [Dirie] is currently facing comes as a deep shock to all of us," said the letter from the Islamic center in conclusion. "It does not reflect the man we know — a man whose actions have consistently reflected family and community. We respectfully ask that this letter be considered as a sincere reflection of who Qalinle Dirie truly is. His contributions may not make headlines, but to us, he has made a positive difference."