Imams criticise detention of Jamaican cleric

By Standard team

Imams in Mombasa have protested against the arrest and detention of an international Islamic preacher from Jamaica.

The Imams claimed the arrest of Sheikh Abdallah Al-Faisal was ill advised and amounted to harassment of Muslims by the State.

Nominated MP Sheikh Mohamed Dor claimed Al-Faisal had a clean record and had no link with criminal groups to warrant the humiliation he encountered.

However, anti-terrorist police officers want Al-Faisal deported, terming him a dangerous man.

He was arrested in Mombasa on New Year’s Eve and held over breach of immigration regulations.

Expert analysis

A source said police are still investigating his movements and had taken his laptop to Nairobi for expert analysis on the request of an unnamed foreign country.

In 2007 Sheikh al-Faisal was deported from Britain where he had lived for 20 years to his native Jamaica for allegedly preaching "hatred against Jews, Hindus and Westerners". He had been jailed in 2003 for the offence.

The source said Immigration officials were working on documents to facilitate his deportation.

"It is true we arrested this man. But we did so for security reasons because I have been employed to ensure Kenyans are secure," said the official.

Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa, the Council of Imams and Preachers national organising secretary, claimed the arrest was an assault on Muslims. He dismissed claims Al-Faisal could have used different names in a different passport in the past.

Anti-Terrorist Police Unit officers on Thursday arrested Sheikh Al-Faisal. He arrived in the country eight days ago, had preached in four mosques and was due to travel to Nairobi for a similar mission. On Sunday, the Imams threatened court action if the State deported him before Monday when he is expected to appear in court.