By NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted Friday, February 10 2012 at 20:44
Posted Friday, February 10 2012 at 20:44
A former envoy’s son was among four people seriously injured on Thursday night at a mosque after two groups of faithful clashed over the annual Maulidi festival.
Mr Amir Hemed, son of former Kenyan envoy to Saudi Arabia Said Hemed, was among dozens of Muslims who had gathered at Mombasa’s Mlango wa Papa mosque to mark the annual event when a group opposed to the festival stormed the mosque, demanding its cancellation.
War of words
The war of words degenerated into a fight that left several injured and property damaged. Police rushed to the scene and ended the clashes.
Senior clerics and Mombasa DC Abdi Hassan who tried to reconcile the rival sides failed as both camps stood their ground.
The two factions eventually dispersed but police remained on guard at the mosque until early Friday morning.
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya organising secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa on Friday called for restraint from both sides.
“For Muslims to fight inside a mosque is great disrespect to the house of Allah,” he said.
Maulidi celebrations are usually held worldwide every year in the third month of the Islamic Calendar to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment