Leaders now claim police swoop breeding animosity

Muslims during prayers at Jamia Mosque in Nairobi, Friday. [PHOTO: MBUGUA KIBERA / STANDARD]

By BRIGID CHEMWENO

Nairobi, Kenya: Muslims have condemned the ongoing blanket security swoop in Eastleigh and Mombasa to weed out illegal immigrants saying it is targeting innocent Somalis and Muslims.

Addressing the press in Jamia Mosque, Nairobi, after prayers Friday, the group led by former National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Farah Maalim said innocent Muslims and Somalis suffered at the hands of overzealous security officers adding that most of the refugees fled their country’s due to insecurity.

“Ours is not an evil doctrine and the Government should not target only one community in fighting terror in the country. I know senior Government officials will go to Church this weekend and talk about this swoop, a scenario which will create animosity between Muslims and Christians,” said Maalim.

The security operation has brought torture to the victims since women are not handled according to the Muslim faith hence infringing on their privacy, he said.

Maalim said the recent attacks in the country were not done by Muslims yet the Government took their security operations to areas where Muslims reside. And when a terror attack is reported, it is always linked with the Muslim community and the Somalis living in the country, an issue he termed as biased.

“We are aware of the security situation in the country but the state should practise its mandate to protect Kenyans. When there is a concern about security, there is always a blanket condemnation on the Muslims,” he added.

He complained that the victims are losing money through extortion in the security operation and others are deported against their will.

Trying moments

Ibrahim Lethome, a member of Jamia Mosque who spoke on behalf of the Muslim religious and business community said what is being conducted in Eastleigh and Mombasa is against the rights of Muslims and that Government should play its rightful role to protect its people.

“These are the trying moments for the religious Muslim community as they are viewed as perpetrators of crimes but we call upon the Muslims to be patient as we consult on the issue and maintain peace. We also urge the Imams in their various Mosques to conduct special prayers for peace and ask Kenyans to avoid using words which can bring animosity,” said Lethome.

Also present was Mandera senator Billow Kerrow who cautioned senior Government officials to be careful of their remarks to the public lest they bring a division between Muslims and Christians.

Kerrow said the Government should stop the security swoop in Eastleigh and initiate investigations adding the business community was counting losses because of the exercise.

“Somalis without legal status in the country should be deported but we were shocked to hear of a senator who was detained in the crackdown yet he had valid documents,” he said.