Muslim clerics in Mombasa demand justice for the murder of anti-extremist cleric

Rasa - Muslim clerics say they will continue to perform their religious and civic duties despite growing concern they are becoming targets of al-Shabaab following the recent assassination of cleric Salim Bakari Mwangari.

News ID: 1639

Date: 15 November 2014 - 15:34

RNA - According to police and eyewitnesses, gunmen on a motorbike shot Mwangari November 4th at 8:10 pm as he made his way to prayers at Bilal Mosque in Mombasa's Likoni neighbourhood.

Mwangari, a father of six, was an imam at the mosque and a vocal critic of al-Shabaab's radical ideology.

"Many Muslim faithful often sought [his guidance] about the teachings on religious violence and extremism," Bilal Mosque muezzin Hussein Chimwenje told Sabahi.

"On numerous occasions, some faithful requested he address the topic in sermons and he obliged, often asking people to desist from what he called 'distorted ideologies fronted by self-serving individuals and groups'."

Although he was aware he might become a target, Mwangari was defiant and continued to condemn acts of violence and extremism from the mosque's pulpit, Chimwenje said.

"Despite expressing fear for his life, he insisted that he was duty bound to preach peaceful co-existence, regardless of the consequences," he said. "He is a person we looked up to for guidance on weighty issues affecting the general public. His killing is a blow because he stood for truth and justice."

Bilal Mosque committee chairperson Omar Abdalla Mwandemba expressed sadness and a sense of loss for the death of Mwangari, describing him as a voice of reason.

"He disliked any form of violence and often advocated for dialogue in solving grievances," Mwandemba told Sabahi. "He spoke against religious violence without out-rightly pinpointing any particular group or individual."

Mwangari also was critical of what he considered the government's excessive use of force againstyouth at Mombasa mosques in recent months, he added.

"We are saddened by the tragedy to hit the mosque and the community [Mwangari] served in," he said. "We do not know the motive of the killers."

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