Islamic Body Protests Jailing Of Muslims Arrested For Terrorism

Largest Islamic body in Malawi , Islamic Commission for Justice and Freedom (ICJF) have attacked the country's police force over the arrest of dozens of Muslims whom they branded as terrorists.

Calling out the act by the police as “unprofessional”, the General Secretary for the Islamic Commission for Justice and Freedom, Hassan Chimwala said in a statement cited by Malawian news site Nyasa Times on Sunday, November 16 said: “In 2010 some Muslim officials were badly beaten up when they were protecting their land at Blantyre Mission. But no-body was arrested in connection to that saga.”

“And this time some Muslims were also victimized earlier in the week to the extent of being hacked as they were still trying to protect the same land which even the ministry of lands officials say it belong to the institution. The victims are still battling with their life in hospitals, but no one has been arrested,” he added.

According to Nyasa Times, Chimwala was speaking about some Muslims arrested last Friday following clashes with villagers over a land plot, believed to belong to the Islamic mission at Chadzunda area.

Defending their land, a group of Muslims clashed with villagers on Friday as a way of forcing them to vacate the land. Following the clashes, police arrested dozens of Muslims, calling them "Boko Haram".

The Muslim leader said police officers went there and arrested all the Muslims calling them Boko Haram, and those who victimized and hacked Muslims were left free.

What type of police officers are we having in this country. Do they teach them racism when conducting their trainings? Do they know who Boko Haram are? Where is justice going? Is the law only applying to Muslims?” queries Chimwala.

Boko Haram, a Hausa term meaning “Western education is sinful”, is loosely modeled on Afghanistan's Taliban.

The militant group says it is fighting enemies who have wronged its members through violence, arrests or economic neglect and corruption.

It has been blamed for a campaign of shootings and bombings against security forces and authorities in the north since 2009.

But recently, the sect has carried out attacks against Christians and Muslims alike.

Chimwala said Malawi Muslims are not connected in any way to Boko Haram, reminding Malawians that “unprofessionalism of police officers has contributed to causes of civil war in some countries.”

He also urged authorities to follow up the issue way back from 2010 “and all who did this should face the law.”

He has also criticized media outlets that branded Muslims who went to protect their land as “terrorists”.

“This is bringing confusion in the country which would eventually lead to riots.”

Malawi is officially a secular nation. Islam is the second largest religion in the country after Christianity. Muslims account for 36% of the country's 16 million population.