Islamic body attempted to reinstate slain imam

Mombasa, Kenya: The Standard established Wednesday evening that Muslim Association, which owns Sakina Mosque, tried to reinstate the late Sheikh Maalim Mohamed Idris to the post of imam.

The slain preacher had been ousted by radical Islamists in November last year and later sacked.

We also learnt Sheikh Idris had called a meeting to discuss violent Islamic extremism slated for June 16 in Mombasa on behalf of Peace and Security for Development Network, which he chaired.

Parties to the multi-religious network are rights groups, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance and other groups that planned to discuss religious extremism, corruption within security systems and community policing, according to an invitation letter sent out on Monday.

Likoni OCPD Robert Mureithi said several people had recorded statements and that police were probing the murder.

Local sleuths

He further said that CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro met local investigators Wednesday to review progress.

Sheikh Idris was forcibly removed from the mosque where he had preached for close to three decades at the height of disturbances between moderate Muslim preachers allied to (CIPK), which he chaired since 1997, and radical supporters of slain extremists Rogo and Makaburi.

The youth who ousted him targeted Musa, Sakina, Liwatoni, Umar Ibn Khattab and other mosques associated with CIPK, which radicals accused of State links and apostasy. Sheikh Idris was dismissed by Muslim Association and forced out of the imam’s residence and the matter ended in court when the parties could not agree on his dues.