Muslim leaders call for calm as police probe attacks on churches

By Ally Jamah

Muslim leaders have criticised attacks on two churches in Garissa that left at least 16 people dead.

Chairman of Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims ( Supkem) Abdulghafur El-Busaidy said targeting a place of worship and killing those inside is barbaric.

“Any place of worship has to be respected by all. Whoever executed the attacks, no matter what religion he professes, has to be condemned and punished. Targeting innocent civilians is inexcusable,” he said on Sunday at Supkem offices in Nairobi

The Supkem boss noted Islam and Muslim do not condone acts of murder and terrorism.

He added whoever committed the crimes should be judged individually and not as representatives of any community or religion.

“Islam and Muslims dissociate themselves from such criminal activities and relevant State security agencies must move with speed to apprehend the criminals,” he said.

El-Busaidy sent condolences to families of those who lost their loved ones.

Human comprehension

He was accompanied by Supkem’s Secretary General Adan Wachu and Organising Secretary Shariff Hussein, among other officials.

Association of Muslim Organisations in Kenya (Amok) also strongly denounced the church attacks.

Amok’s director-general Fazul Mohamed said a terrorist attack on a place of worship reflects moral bankruptcy of perpetrators of such crimes.

Recommended Videos

Sunrise Live Interview : The Week in Politics 17th June 2013

Prisoner of my Skin

Teachers awaiting a decision from its top organ on whether or not to call a strike

Video of the Day : Imagine waking up to realize you cannot remember yourself