Zanzibar mufti urges investigation into religious attacks

The office of Zanzibar’s chief mufti has called on the government to actively investigate the targeting of religious leaders in Zanzibar, Tanzania’s The Guardian reported Monday (March 4th).

It is unclear whether recent attacks are religiously or politically motivated, Acting Secretary for the Mufti Sheikh Thabit Noman Jongo said at a graduation ceremony for the Youth Forum in Unguja. He lauded President Jakaya Kikwete’s move to invite foreign investigators to help local police thoroughly investigate the killings.

Last month, Father Evarist Mushi was shot and killed by unknown gunmen outside of his church. In addition, Father Ambrose Mkenda suffered gunshot wounds in an attempt on his life on Christmas Day and Muslim cleric Sheikh Fadhil Suleiman Soraga was attacked with acid in November.

Jongo said these incidents violate Islamic principles. “According to the Holy Qur’an, it is not allowed to take life of another person without any reason … experts should dig more to find the source of these acts,” he said.

Source: Sabahi Online