Muslim leaders led by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims
Secretary-General Adan Wachu, (centre) addressing the press at the Jamia
Mosque on Septmeber 22, 2013 after the Westgate mall attacks. The
leaders have condemned the killing in Mombasa of Sheikh Ibrahim Umar
alias Rogo together with three others on Thusrday October 3, 2013 and
the subsequent chaos that led to the death of four more people and
destruction of property. PHOTO|JENNIFER MUIRURI|FILE.
NATION
Saturday, October 05, 2013
Muslim leaders have strongly condemned the killing in Mombasa of
a Sheikh plus three others and the subsequent chaos that led to the
death of four more people.
The clerics also distanced
themselves from the burning of a church by protesting youths saying
those who did so were criminals who did not subscribe to any religion.
“Whilst
we reiterate our condemnation of the Westgate massacre, we are also
appalled by the violence which broke out in the aftermath of the
extrajudicial killings of four Muslim preachers on Thursday and the
uncalled for attacks on a church and private property,” the leaders
said.
In a statement read by Supreme Council of Kenya
Muslims Secretary-General Adan Wachu, they also asked the government to
launch credible investigations on both incidences.
“Those behind the burning of the Salvation Army Church are criminals who have no respect for religion.
Islam does not approve of such heinous behaviour,” said Sheikh Wachu during the press briefing at Jamia Mosque, Nairobi.
Sheikh
Ibrahim Umar alias Rogo together with three others died in a hail of
bullets from unknown gunmen shortly after leaving the Masjid Musa Mosque
on Thursday night.
Youths protesting his killing
engaged police in running battles for the better part of Friday leading
to the four deaths and destruction of property.
Muslim
human rights defender Al-Amin Kimathi said the killing of the Sheikh
pointed to a past pattern of eliminating Muslim teachers.
“There is no conclusion in the inquiry to the killing of Sheikh Aboud Rogo.
We would like a conclusion to it so we can know the real truth of those behind these extra-judicial killings,” said Mr Kimathi.
Nominated Senator Emma Mbura said security organs should pull up their socks to protect Kenyans from such killings.
“Whatever their sins, the four victims were citizens of the Republic of Kenya.
The State had the duty and the means to protect their lives and their right to a due legal process, but it did not.
If the four had violated any local or international laws, they ought to have been arrested and accorded a fair trial.
I
demand that the relevant State authorities must demonstrate in no
uncertain terms that they are already on top of this case” said Senator
Mbura Saturday.