SAN DIEGO -- A Somali man held for 15 months at a South Bay detention facility could soon learn if he will be released, 10News reported.

In 2006 in Somalia, Abdala Abdille and his cousin were kidnapped by members of the extremist group Al-Shabaab, which had alleged ties to al-Qaeda, when the two men refused to join them.

After being beaten with a gun, Abdille, 26, said he agreed to hold a gun during a group mission even though he had no idea how to use it.

After two days, he said he escaped, and months later he ended up at the San Ysidro crossing, asking for asylum.

When he told his story, federal officials claimed he provided "material support" for a "terrorist organization."

Fifteen months later, Abdille remains in the Corrections Corporation of America's federal detention facility in Otay Mesa.

Abdille is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, and ACLU attorney Sean Riordan said, "The government shouldn't be able to continue detaining our client without justifying that detention."

In a federal courtroom Friday, ACLU lawyers petitioned for a hearing for Abdille's release.

Government lawyers argued they had the power to continue holding Abdille and the courts do not have the power to intervene.

Abdi Mohamoud, executive director for Horn of Africa, said, "This is very disturbing. He should at least get his court hearing. Al-Shabaab is known for brutal tactics in recruiting unwilling people."

A decision in Abdille's case could come within weeks.