Shun extremist ideas, clerics tell Muslims

Scholars and clerics yesterday appealed to local Muslims in Tana River County to avoid extremism and terrorism.

Tana River and neighbouring Lamu have in the recent past witnessed terror attacks and a rise in extremism linked to Al Shabaab.

Yesterday, the clerics and scholars under the auspices of the Sufi Supreme Council of Kenya, said Muslim and political leaders in the area should denounce Al Shabaab and join security and other religious groups to de-radicalise youths.

The clerics said terrorists hijacked religion and depended on twisted ideology to justify murder of innocent people and promote intolerance.

The religious leaders called upon Muslims to unite and act against extremism and terrorism that dents the image of the peaceful religion of Islam across the globe.

Sheikh Abdulkadir Alahdal, chairman of the Sufi Supreme Council of Kenya, called for unity of the Muslim community in the fight against extremist ideologies in madrassas (Islamic schools).

"Islam is peace and indeed peace should be the true reflection of the religion and that is the message that needs to be promoted and not that of violence against non-Muslims and moderate Muslims," said Sheikh Alahdal in a communique after the end of the three-day religious meeting in Garsen sub-county.

The cleric said Muslim leaders should not sit back and watch but speak out against intolerance expressing concern that some countries have been gripped by terrorism and extremism.

Alahdal asked Muslim youths to reject extremism and twisted ideologies from divisive scholars and instead seek to gain proper Islamic knowledge and guidance from reputable institutions.

Garsen Assistant County Commissioner Rashid Were, who was part of the delegation, said the country needs to encourage religious tolerance for lasting peace, unity and harmony.