Muslim clerics in Kenya declare war on extremist

They said they will henceforth “join their respective governments in weeding out extremism” after realizing that extremist ideas must be combated. They warned that radicalism threatens the existence of sovereign nations and their economies.

After a two-day conference at Mackinon Road township in Kwale County, the clerics said Salafist groups, to which Al Shabaab belongs, are motivated by Wahhabi doctrines and have hijacked Islam.

They met at the Al Mahmudiyah Islamic Centre under the umbrella of the International Sufi Conference on Sunday and Monday and admitted that although Sufism advocates tolerance and moderation, they underestimated the appeal and determination of Wahhabi doctrines and Salafist groups.

In a statement, the clerics said Islam does not support violence, murder and destruction or expulsion of Muslims and non-Muslims even when there is a difference of religious interpretation.

US based Somalii scholar Mohamud Elmi, urged Muslims in the region to work with their governments to defeat Al Shabaab and other extremists.

“Islam is utterly against extremism and terrorism and we are gathered here to chart the way forward in dismantling and deconstructing all ideas of extremism propagated by groups purporting to be fighting in the name of Islam,” Dr Elmi said.

He said the conference resolved to propagate “tolerance and co-existence between the followers of Islam and Christianity”.

/SR