Green light before Friday prayers at Masjid Musa
What you need to know:
- He told the congregation that nobody had asked for the keys to the mosque from County Commissioner Nelson Marwa during the two weeks it had been closed.
- “I went to Mr Marwa’s office and I will run the mosque the way I want. People will come to pray and leave me behind to close the mosque,” Mr Khatib told the worshippers who had turned up for prayers after the mosque reopened.
- Governor Hassan Joho asked those not happy with Mr Khatib’s idea to consult and find a way forward.
Friday prayers will not be held at Mombasa’s Masjid Musa Mosque until a committee appointed to run it gives the all-clear.
The new chairman of the mosque, Mr Musa Khatib Khamis, Thursday told worshippers after the Dhuhri prayers that the prayers would not be held since “anything could happen”.
Mr Khatib is the father of Kayuni Khatib — one of the four youths who surrendered to the police two weeks ago — and who has been charged with the attempted killing of CID boss Victor Thangalani.
Mr Khatib said nothing would take place in the mosque without his consent.
“I will not allow anyone to lead prayers or do anything else without my knowledge,” Mr Khatib told the worshippers.
LOOK FOR A CLERIC
He told the congregation that nobody had asked for the keys to the mosque from County Commissioner Nelson Marwa during the two weeks it had been closed.
“I went to Mr Marwa’s office and I will run the mosque the way I want. People will come to pray and leave me behind to close the mosque,” Mr Khatib told the worshippers who had turned up for prayers after the mosque reopened.
Governor Hassan Joho asked those not happy with Mr Khatib’s idea to consult and find a way forward.
“We have been through a lot of difficulties because of this mosque and we would like you not to argue over the issue. Sit down as a community and look for a cleric to lead you in everything here,” he said.
He urged the elders to involve young people in decision-making and even include them in the committee.
