Clerics afraid of taking over mosques for fear of victimisation

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) Prof Abdulghafour Al Busaidy during a press conference at Haki Africa offices on November 21, 2014. The closure of four Mosques in Mombasa has sparked fury among Islamic leaders, none of whom, however, is ready to take over the mosques for fear of reprisals by radicalised youths. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA |

What you need to know:

  • But since then, and the subsequent raid of Masjid Swafaa and Masjid Minah in Kisauni two days later, there has not been a cleric who has volunteered to manage any of the mosques.
  • Today, small-scale businesses in most parts of the Majengo opening late in the morning and close early for fear of criminal attacks, or getting caught in confrontations between radical youth and security personnel.

The closure of four Mosques in Mombasa has sparked fury among Islamic leaders, none of whom, however, is ready to take over the mosques for fear of reprisals by radicalised youths.

After the Monday raid of Masjid Musa and Sakina Mosque, the government through Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa said it was ready to hand over the mosques on condition they are run by committees.

But since then, and the subsequent raid of Masjid Swafaa and Masjid Minah in Kisauni two days later, there has not been a cleric who has volunteered to manage any of the mosques.

“We have asked the governor, senator, MPs and woman representative to liaise with Chief Kadhi, sheikhs and imams to help us form committees to take charge of the four mosques,” he said.

Speaking at his Uhuru na Kazi building office, Mr Marwa insisted government would only hand over to committees.

Interviews with imams and preachers revealed that their fates are sealed – both those who support and condemn government actions – thus exposing themselves for reprisal attacks from the extremists who have labelled them “traitors”.

CLERICS NOT SAFE

The uncertainty has caused some clerics to flee to neighbouring Tanzania. “They are fleeing, especially from Kisauni, Majengo, Likoni, Ukunda and Msambweni, for fear of their safety,” a cleric told the Sunday Nation.

The chair of the Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) Khelef sentiments seem to endorse the view that matters have got out of hand. When he tried to speak to youths from Swafaa, they bluntly told him off; their destiny, they said, is in the holy Scripture.

“I was shocked by their stance. In my 25 years of human rights activism, I have never encountered people who are so vichwa maji (big-headed) like those youths,” he said on phone.

But instead of making blanket condemnations and harassing Muslims, Mr Khalifa wants security agencies to use available intelligence to arrest “hard-liners” like those from Masjid Swafaa.

A quick survey of the vast Majengo area showed evidence of a drastic change of lifestyle, with many imposing “self-curfew” to avoid being caught in confrontational conflicts between youths and the government.

CRIMINAL ATTACKS
Identifying herself as Fatma Ali, a resident said that life has not been the same since the killing of fiery preacher Sheikh Aboud Rogo in August 2012.

“His death caused us to be detained in our houses for days when the elite GSU unit descended here (Masjid Musa) to counter rampaging followers,” she said, adding that other residents had shifted elsewhere.

Today, small-scale businesses in most parts of the Majengo opening late in the morning and close early for fear of criminal attacks, or getting caught in confrontations between radical youth and security personnel.

But Mombasa Catholic Archdiocese vicar-general Wilybard Lagho sees two sets of terror one by radical youths and the other by drug gangs and criminals.

According to him, those killing community policing agents and village elders are doing so to “silence” then from giving information to the government.

Mr Lagho is also concerned that there are “rogue cops” who collaborate with criminal gangs by leaking intelligence reports.