Mosques Closures Alarm Kenya Muslims

OnIslam & News Agencies

Tuesday, 16 September 2014 00:00

Faith leaders have warned that the new measures threatened further restrictions on Muslim freedoms under the guise of fighting terrorism.

NAIROBI – Kenya faith leaders have expressed anger over the recent threats by the director of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to close mosque suspected of offering “radical teachings”, seeing the threat as a pretext to attack, redefine and profile Islam and Muslim.

“It is like shutting down Mombasa port because it is frequented by drug traffickers or blowing up a house because it had a terrorist tenant. The Government needs to target individuals involved in the suspected crime, not the mosque,” Senator Billow Kerrow (Mandera) told Standard Digital on Tuesday, September 16.

“Targeting mosques confirms suspicions by Muslims that Government often targets the faith.

“If there is a Muslim leader suspected of recruiting for Al-Shabaab, go for him and not the facility because if you shut it down they will go to another one,” he added.

Kerrow was reacting to the threats made by CID director Ndegwa Muhoro to close mosques he claimed were preaching extremism and promoting Al-Shabaab ideologies.

The CID boss asserted that authorities have recently shut a mosque in Machakos after claims it was recruiting youth to Al-Shabaab.

Muslim concerns further aggravated on Monday after Mombasa County Police Commander Robert Kitur, who commanded the raid on Musa mosque, said police have placed several mosques “across Coast region under surveillance” over radical activity.

“We are not targeting just mosques. There are also non-governmental organizations we are monitoring,” Kitur said.

Kenya Muslims have been sensing eradication of their rights after their country was involved in the so-called war on terrorism in East Africa.

Supported by UK and US, Kenya's anti-terror police have been accused of targeting innocent Muslims with arbitrary arrests and disappearances.

Muslims problems increased following last September Westgate mall attack in which more than 60 people were killed, the attack which was claimed by Somalia's militant al Shabaab group.

Freedom

Faith leaders have warned that the new measures threatened further restrictions on Muslim freedoms under the guise of fighting terrorism.

“It is very sad for a senior security official of Muhoro’s caliber to issue blanket threats against houses of worship in the name of fighting terrorism. If there are specific people who are committing criminal acts, they should be dealt with in line with the law,” Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Deputy Secretary General Hassan ole Naado.

Catholic priest Father Gabriel Dolan warned the Government against such a policy, saying it will amount to collective punishment.

He said Muhoro’s threats were issued on the day “when extra-judicial killing of Muslims appears to have resumed” warning that the CID director’s proposal “will be interpreted by Muslims that they are being targeted” because the Government should pursue individuals it believes are promoting hate.

“Mombasa was beginning to settle down but the resumption of extra-judicial killing of young Muslims and the Director’s threat will inflame the situation one year into the first anniversary of the Westgate Shopping Mall terrorist attack,” said Dolan.

Supreme Council for Kenya Muslim (Supkem) Coast branch chairman Sheikh Muhdhar Khitamy demanded a solid proof on terrorism links before closing any mosques.

“Qur’an and hadith is used to regulate teachings and if at all there are issues raised, the mosque committee should be called upon,” he said.

“The Government ought to provide real proof and not go by mere suspicions to order for closure of a mosque.”

A Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya official in Kwale Sheikh Amir Banda said any shutdown of a mosque will be considered an attack on Islam.

National Muslim Leaders Forum Chairman Abdullahi Abdi termed Muhoro’s statement as “offensive” to the Muslim community and urged him to withdraw and apologize.

Hussein Khalid, executive director of Haki Africa, a civil society group based in Mombasa, termed the CID director’s remarks as shocking.

“We are utterly perturbed by the threats coming from the Government to close up mosques,” Khalid said.

“Not only is this threat unconstitutional and a direct violation of the freedom of religion guaranteed in Article 32 of the Constitution, but also meant to cause unnecessary tension and concern in what is already a volatile situation.”