Community Standards & Ethical Charter

1. Our Identity

Biciid Center for Culture & Nature is a cultural trust.

We are:

• A digital archive
• A scholarly community
• A heritage preservation institution
• A space for intergenerational knowledge exchange
• A platform for traditional and modern intellectual engagement

Our work protects Somali tangible and intangible heritage while welcoming global dialogue rooted in respect and evidence.

These standards are not restrictions — they are safeguards for dignity, scholarship, and cultural continuity.

2. Core Principles

Every participant in Biciid Center agrees to uphold:

• Respect — Every person deserves dignity — regardless of background, gender, clan, belief, or status.
• Intellectual Integrity — Knowledge must be handled with honesty and responsibility.
• Cultural Responsibility — Heritage is sacred. It must not be distorted, exploited, or trivialized.
• Non-Violence — Physical, verbal, or digital aggression has no place in this community.
• Inclusivity — We welcome youth, elders, women, researchers, artists, and innovators.

3. A Supportive Intellectual Environment

Biciid Center encourages:

• Academic debate
• Evidence-based discussion
• Constructive critique
• Questions and inquiry
• Innovation rooted in tradition

Disagreement is allowed. Disrespect is not.

We believe that strong ideas grow in respectful dialogue.

4. Cultural & Heritage Responsibility

Our platform hosts discussions on:

• Oral traditions
• Poetry (Gabay, Geeraar, Buraanbur, etc.)
• Traditional games (Shax, Shantarad, etc.)
• Archaeology and history
• Indigenous knowledge
• Biodiversity and ecology
• Customary law (Xeer)

Members must not:

• Mock cultural practices
• Promote clan hostility
• Spread fabricated historical narratives
• Exploit heritage for division

Cultural content must be handled with care, especially when referencing sacred traditions, religious practices, indigenous knowledge, or endangered heritage.

5. Respectful Communication

Members agree to use respectful language, avoid insults or degrading terms, refrain from personal attacks, and engage ideas — not personalities.

Prohibited behavior includes:

• Harassment
• Threats
• Hate speech
• Clan-based hostility
• Religious insults
• Gender-based discrimination

This includes comments, private messages, game chat, and event participation.

6. Safety & Protection Standards

The following are strictly prohibited:

Biciid Center maintains zero tolerance for these violations.

7. Intellectual Honesty & Research Ethics

As a knowledge platform, we require:

• Proper attribution of sources
• No plagiarism
• No fabricated research
• No intentional misinformation

When presenting historical or archaeological claims: cite sources where possible, clarify interpretation vs fact, and avoid sensationalism.

Scholarly integrity protects cultural truth.

8. Digital Games & Fair Play (Shax and Others)

Our traditional games platform represents Somali intellectual heritage. For comprehensive rules, see the Official Shax Championship Rulebook.

Players must:

• Compete fairly
• Respect opponents
• Avoid abusive language
• Accept results with dignity

Strictly prohibited:

• Cheating — see Anti-Cheating Detection Framework
• Exploiting technical errors
• Disconnecting intentionally to avoid loss
• Harassment during gameplay

Games are spaces of learning, strategy, and cultural pride. See also Fair Play & Tournament Code and Digital Ranking & ELO Policy.

9. AI Interaction Policy (Tiraab AI)

Tiraab AI exists to support language preservation, assist research, promote learning, and strengthen Somali digital knowledge systems. For the full ethical framework, see the Tiraab AI Ethical Charter.

It must not be used to:

• Generate hate speech
• Spread false historical claims
• Produce extremist propaganda
• Create explicit or exploitative content
• Circumvent safeguards

Attempts to manipulate AI safety systems may result in suspension. See also AI Transparency & Liability.

10. Privacy & Data Respect

Members must not:

• Publish private personal information
• Share confidential communications
• Dox or expose others

Biciid Center commits to:

• Protecting user data
• Transparent analytics
• Ethical AI data handling
• Secure digital architecture

See our full Privacy Policy for details.

11. Event Conduct (Online & Physical)

Participants in workshops, lectures, cultural nights, and forums must:

• Speak respectfully
• Avoid disruptions
• Follow moderator guidance
• Respect cultural expressions

In-person and online events must remain safe, inclusive, and non-hostile.

12. Moderation & Enforcement

Our goal is correction, not punishment. However, serious violations may result in:

• Educational warning
• Content removal
• Temporary suspension
• Tier demotion (for members)
• Permanent removal

Enforcement considers severity, intent, frequency, and harm impact. Repeated violations may result in permanent removal. All decisions can be appealed through our Support Center.

For the detailed enforcement framework, see the Moderation Severity Matrix (Level 1–5).

13. Reporting & Accountability

Members can report harmful content, harassment, cheating in games, and AI misuse.

Reports are confidential and reviewed fairly. False or malicious reporting may also result in consequences.

14. Protection of Youth & Vulnerable Members

We prioritize youth empowerment, safe participation, gender inclusion, and protection from exploitation.

Any behavior targeting vulnerable members will be addressed immediately. See our Youth & Online Safety Policy and Youth & AI Protection Guidelines for detailed safeguards.

15. Community Growth & Shared Responsibility

Every member is a guardian of this space. We grow by mentoring newcomers, encouraging scholarship, promoting ethical dialogue, and supporting respectful innovation.

Biciid Center is building something historic — a digital intellectual ecosystem rooted in Somali heritage. Each member strengthens or weakens that mission.

16. Amendments & Evolution

As Biciid Center grows — including games, AI systems, archives, and global partnerships — these standards may evolve. Continued participation indicates acceptance of updated guidelines.