( CNN ) -- An al Qaeda-linked militant movement has taken control of a radio station in Somalia 's capital , the government announced Saturday . The weak central government claims the group is spreading propaganda from at least two radio stations , including Mogadishu 's Holy Quran radio , a private FM station , which it took earlier this week . Al-Shabaab earlier this year looted private radio equipment to use in a station , the government said . `` We strongly condemn these acts . They want to silence the independent media with brutality and intolerance , '' said . Abdirahman Omar Osman , Somalia 's minister of information . Al-Shabaab , which has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda , controls much of southern Somalia and portions of Mogadishu . It follows the strict Saudi Arabian-inspired Wahabi interpretation of Islam , rather than the Sufi Islam of many Somalis . `` Somalis in remote areas are not educated in the detail of Islam , '' the transitional government said in a statement . `` They are vulnerable to radicalization and Al-Shabaab is intent on using radio as a means to impose their views and extreme interpretation of our faith and to brainwash the young men , women and children , especially in rural areas , where the number of educated people is limited . `` This is a serious issue as we see that the recent forced recruitment of young men and boys is occurring outside the capital Mogadishu . '' The National Union of Somali Journalists ( NUSOJ ) condemned the takeover of Holy Quran Radio as a `` blatant crime . '' In a statement issued earlier this week , al-Shabaab said all radio equipment belonged to Somali Muslims and that listeners in the capital will enjoy religious programs and other coverage . Journalist Mohamed Amiin Adow contributed to this report .
Militant Islamic group controls radio stations . Government says al - Shabaab is a terror . It also says they are recruiting young men , women .