A Somali human rights agency issued a report Monday in the country's capital Mogadishu to commemorate the death of a human rights activist, Radio Garowe reports.

Mogadishu-based Elman Human Rights group was named after Mr. Mohamud Ali Ahmed, popularly known as Elman, who was killed by militiamen on March 9, 1996, while walking with a young child along a city street.

Monday's well-organized ceremony was held at Mogadishu's Amira Hotel, where Somali peace activists and government officials offered speeches to honor the country's peace and human rights movement.

Abdullahi Mohamud Mohamed, chairman of the INXA human rights group, commended Mr. Elman as a hero who organized armed youth and educated them during difficult times.

Somali lawmaker Bottan Isse Alim, one of Mogadishu's notorious ex-warlords, offered a brief prayer and praised Elman as a champion of peace.

"Any person who does the right is always remembered and Elman was one of the people remembered for his good actions," said Fartun Abdisalam, Elman's widow.

Mr. Ali Fadha, Elman Human Rights chairman

Mr. Ali "Fadha" Sheikh Yasin, the Elman Human Rights agency's current chairman, thanked everyone for attending the ceremony and read aloud a list of human rights violations from 2008, including killings, rapes and kidnappings.

According to the Elman Human Rights 2008 report, 7,674 people were killed mostly civilians in Mogadishu, while 16,914 others were forcefully displaced from their homes.

There were 106 cases of rape reported and 1,164 cases of torture, although the report did not specify the culprits behind such crimes.

Further, there were a total of 41 kidnappings of aid workers, including 16 foreigners. Currently, there are 12 aid workers being held hostage in Somalia, the report concluded.

Mr. Ali Fadha called on the Somali national unity government and the Islamist rebels to stop the war and to enter peace negotiations.

Elman Human Rights group is frequently sourced by the media for its annual reports on human rights abuses in Somalia, especially in Mogadishu.