Riots fear shuts down Mombasa

What you need to know:

  • Businesses remained closed in Majengo and Kisauni, which have witnessed violent crime in the last two weeks. Streets in both areas, where the mosques are located, were deserted.
  • While Muslim leaders appreciate the concerns about insecurity and radicalisation, they are strongly opposed to the decision by the police to raid places of worship.
  • Kisauni police boss Richard Ngatia, who led the operation against the youths at Swafaa Mosque, told the Saturday Nation that the group had broken the scene of crime tape and made their way into the place of worship.

Shops in parts of Mombasa County were shut for the better part of Friday, with the owners and residents fearing violent protests over the closure of four mosques by police.

At the same time, Muslim leaders at the Coast and in Nairobi called for the unconditional reopening of mosques that were shut on allegations of hosting radical youths linked to Al-Shabaab.

The police accuse the youths of a string of deadly terror attacks in the region. The attacks have also had a devastating effect on tourism, and the current tension, coming ahead of the Christmas season, will not help matters.

Police maintained their presence around the mosques — Musa, Sakina, Swafaa and Minaa — and fought off attempts by youths to access them on Thursday night.

KEPT OFF

Friday, the faithful kept off the four mosques but messages of peace and harmony dominated midday prayers in other places of worship.

Businesses remained closed in Majengo and Kisauni, which have witnessed violent crime in the last two weeks. Streets in both areas, where the mosques are located, were deserted.

In Nairobi, political leaders from the Muslim community demanded immediate reopening of the mosques.

Two senators and six MPs asked the government to hold talks with Muslim leaders on how best to handle the situation.

Senators Billow Kerrow (Mandera) and Omar Hassan Omar (Mombasa), who spoke at Parliament Buildings, said the actions by the police were causing tensions.

Counterproductive

They are counterproductive and provocative to the Muslim community, they added.

“Whatever the circumstances, the government didn’t have to close the mosques,” said Mr Kerrow.

While Muslim leaders appreciate the concerns about insecurity and radicalisation, they are strongly opposed to the decision by the police to raid places of worship.

“The facts that mosques have been invaded by the police will create more problems than solutions,” he said.

Mr Hassan said: “Profiling mosques is unacceptable. Mosques don’t commit crime. Pursue the perpetrators and leave the mosques alone.”

He also criticised the Judiciary, saying it has failed to safeguard the rights of those arrested and detained for long periods without charges being preferred against them.

Mr Hassan said there has been a deliberate attempt to regard the security operation as a Mombasa issue yet it is national.

Bura MP Ali Wario said police should stop treating Muslims as criminals.

TENSION IN MOMBASA

Wajir County Woman Representative Fatma Ibrahim said the security operations must be intelligence-led for it to succeed.

In Mombasa, there was tension for the better part of the morning, with fears that violent demonstrations could erupt after prayers.

Four people were killed by marauding gangs in Kisauni on Monday night, hours after a police raid on two of the four mosques, where 251 youths were rounded up.

Yesterday, the faithful avoided the closed mosques, where heavily armed police officers stood guard.

A group of youths attempted to force their way into the Musa Mosque in Majengo but were repulsed. The officers shot once in the air during the brief confrontation, scaring away the youths. No injuries were reported.

On Thursday night, youths attempted to enter the Swafaa Mosque for 8pm prayers but were also repulsed by the security agents.

FORCED WAY INTO MOSQUE

Kisauni police boss Richard Ngatia, who led the operation against the youths at Swafaa Mosque, told the Saturday Nation that the group had broken the scene of crime tape and made their way into the place of worship.

He declined to comment on whether anyone was arrested. However, unconfirmed reports say at least 16 people were arrested and taken to the Bamburi Police Station.

The officers then sealed the mosque and fortified the entrance by welding the gate.

Yesterday, a group of Muslim leaders and civil society members described the police’s strategy of dealing with radicalisation at mosques as counterproductive and a violation of the right and freedom of worship.

“I am saddened by the pictures published in local dailies showing police officers entering mosques in their boots,” said Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Chairman Abdulghaful El-Busaidy.

Additional reporting by Carol Wafula and Mohamed Ahmed