Muslims told to reject new terrorism bill

KBC
Sunday, July 29, 2012

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The proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill is already attracting opposition from the Muslim community in Kenya. Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) national chairman Abdulghafur El-Busaidy says the passage of the bill would have detrimental repercussions to the community and should be rejected at all cost.

The bill that has stalled in parliament for years due to persistent controversy had been drafted afresh ready for debate and subsequent passage by parliament by it is already facing opposition.

SUPKEM says Muslims have engaged prominent lawyers to scrutinize the Bill before its goes to parliament for legislation as Muslims are more likely than any other community in the country to suffer if it was passed into law in its present form.

Speaking at Liwatoni complex in Mombasa during an Iftar dinner (breaking fast at the sunset) cum fundraiser event for Liwatoni Secondary School, Prof. El-Busaidy said Muslims perceive that they would be stigmatized by the legislation and called for a thorough scrutiny of the Bill.

"Detentions, arrests and charges would be arbitrarily carried out by the security agencies under the guise of fighting terrorism using the legislation" said Prof. El-Busaidy during the Iftar dinner attended by officials of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) which is also opposed to the Bill in combating terror.

Prof. El-Busaidy said the Bill goes against the spirit of the constitution which guarantees the rights of every citizen adding that the penal code can be used to fight extremism.

He urged Muslims to take the education of their children seriously to be able to benefit from the many opportunities created by the devolved governance structure.

He noted that issues of marginalization and historical injustices that Muslims have complained for long can be addressed effectively through education.

The funds drive in aid of the proposed Liwatoni Secondary School has realized Ksh.10.8 million.

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