The influence of Western secular materialism

Murad E. Murad

On Friday the 15th January 2010, just a day before the United States of America celebrated their religious freedom day, in Nairobi, that same freedom was scuttled by the police courtesy of one sheikh Abdullahi Ibrahim Al-faisal, a native of Jamaica, a South American nation. What a coincidence!

A demonstration in support of the Jamaican born cleric resulted in injuries, loss of lives and property worth millions of shillings.

Sheikh Abdulla Al-Faisal was arrested by Kenyan authorities on charges of being on an international terrorist list. Since these happened after sheikh Feisal gave sermons in several Kenya mosques, it was expected for, if not all, a section of the Muslims to demonstrate their displeasure at such an action. It should not be lost to observers that Sheikh Faisal had a three months Visa to stay in the country.

Many Muslim leaders cleared off the controversy maybe because they couldn’t vouch for the actions of Al-faisal. Had the authorities deported Al-feisal within the 48hours of his arrest which they were capable of, the disgruntled Muslims would have fewer grounds to complain.

Instead, the authorities charged with Kenyan security hyped and publicized the arrest of sheikh Feisal and detained him for days to show-case Kenya’s so called fight against terrorism. This was done to appease foreign powers and buy patronage, and was not in the interest of the nation. As a result, all the international airlines were alerted and refused to have Sheikh Faisal on board, ending in a state where Feisal has to be within our borders getting more sympathizers by the day.

It is such a paradox that the United States which receives a hundred percent support from the Kenyan government, an ‘ally’ in its so called fight against terrorism could not grant a transit visa for safe passage of Al- Feisal to Jamaica. It is an unfortunate subject-master phenomenon common in African nations’ relationship with western power.

Back to the demonstrations, the police intervention was brutal, barbaric and uncalled for. For the first time in Kenyan history, police hurled teargas and water cannon into a mosque, a sacred site of worship. The use of live bullets against civilians is a shocking reminder of the post-election violence, an instant every Kenyan would wish to forget.

What did the police expect when they confined the ten thousand faithful within the Mosque, in an area less than an acre as they denied them exit?

The unprecedented way in which a section of the non-Muslim public were drawn into action, and were seen hurling stones at the faithful in the mosque, side by side with the police was unfortunate.

Whoever designed it whether within the police force or outside, had the intention to ignite sectarian violence which should be condemned and investigated. Kenyans have co-existed since time immemorial and should be wary of any cartel that is out to breed religious intolerance.

As I drove near Jamia mosque on that Friday, I noticed what must have been a gang of hired youths hurling stones at Jamia and surrounding buildings as members of the public watched in disbelief. For once, I never failed to appreciate that despite the happening; many Kenyans were peace-loving and were as shocked and stunned.

The claim by the internal security minister that the bullet which hit the police officer might have been fired from within the demonstrators is an attempt to cover-up the atrocities committed by the officers. It should be made clear at this point, that police were granted access to the mosque with their gadgets and reported that there wasn’t any gun neither in the mosque nor within the faithful.

The Minister’s statement that ‘’ the demonstration was infiltrated by sympathizers of Al-Shabaab who could as well be here’’ implying to those who were in his office then, was an insult to the Muslim leaders who on a goodwill note attended his press briefing. He should apologize on this and the actions of his officers and stop the grandstanding.

Since it has been normal for commissions of inquiries to be established for public relations and to have no end-justice, the Minister ought to be informed that Muslims and Kenyans await concrete action and not mere pronouncements. The only thing for the minister to do is to immediately dismiss the officers in charge of Friday’s operation and anybody who might have been involved in that day’s chain of command. Anything short of that is a travesty of justice and will result in the police force being viewed in the partisan way in which they acted.

Alternatively, the Minister should call it quits as it appears he is not in control rather than defending police impunity.

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