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| National |
| Muslims riot in Mzuzu |
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by
Peter Makossah, 08 July 2003
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18:35:02
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Muslims on Friday went on rampage in Mzuzu severely beating and seriously injuring two leaders of the Muslim Association of Malawi (Mam) who were visiting the Northern Region to tell Muslims to maintain peace and not to engage themselves in protests against the deportation of al Qaeda suspects in Blantyre a fortnight ago.
Mam national deputy chairperson Sheikk Daudi Abbasi and executive member Alhaji Kalisinje are battling with life at St. John’s Mission Hospital after being beaten by a mob of protesting Muslims who claimed the two had been sent by President Bakili Muluzi to tell them to favour the Americans who are fighting Islam under the guise of terrorism.
The Muslims were coming from the mosque for prayers when Abbasi and Kalisinje started the meeting in which they wanted to commend Muslims in the North for not taking part in protests that took turns in Mangochi, Blantyre, and Kasungu in protest to the arrest and deportation of the five suspected agents of terrorism.
Mam sent Abbasi and Kalisinje to tell Muslims in the North to be peaceful. They had already visited Nkhata Bay, Mzimba Chitipa and Karonga.
Seven people have since been arrested and are being held at Mzuzu Police Station pending trial.
The seven suspects are: John Weja, 25 from Malamia village T/A Makanjira, Mangochi, Rajab Khoba, 30, of Tambala village in Chief Malengachanzi’s area Nkhotakota, Anusa Mdoka, 25, of Chisa village, T/A Mponda in Mangochi and Burton Kenneth, 30, Mbela village, T/A, Kawinga in Machinga.
Others are Ajatu Jonasi Yunusu, 25, of Mchiliko village in T/A Jalasi in Mangochi, Akimu Linyama, 35, from Malasa village T/A, Malengachanzi Nkhotakota and Lifa Binali from Mambo village T/A Makanjira in Mangochi.
But when contacted for comment police spokesman George Chikowi refused to comment, saying: “I have no details.”
Jessie Mwaiwawo, owner of a Coffin shop next door to the Mam offices who witnessed the bout, said the two leaders had just started the meeting when the Muslims started protesting the statements by hurling insults and later started beating up the two gentlemen.
“I don’t understand why the people were so violent. After all, the two gentlemen were telling them that it was pleasing that they did not behave like their friends in Mangochi and Blantyre. I could not imagine people coming from prayers doing what they did,” said Mwaiwawo.
When Nation arrived at the scene, Abbasi was unconscious while Kalisinje was bleeding profusely. The two were later taken to Mzuzu Central Hospital by the police who came to save the situation.
The volatile Muslims were heard shouting: “ We will fight the Americans up until we win the battle. This is a religious battle and we are ready to die in the name of Allah.”
Others shouted: “ Muluzi has betrayed us, he is a traitor. He did not stand for us as a fellow Muslis and we will not stand by him.”
The two battered leaders are said to have been moved away from Mzuzu Central Hospital where they had been initially taken to St. Johns Hospital for fear that the rampaging Muslims would return.
Officials at St. John’s Hospital refused to give details of the two casualties on Tuesday, saying they have been instructed to keep a tight lip on the issue by “some high authorities” for the safety of the two people.
“The two people were here but have been taken away by their authorities. We are not competent enough to tell where they have been taken. But they are still not fine,” said one official at the hospital who only identified herself as a Mrs. Kumwenda.
But in a later interview, officials from the Northern Region Muslim Association of Malawi said the two were taken back to their respective homes in Lilongwe and Machinga on Sunday.
“For fear that the irate protestors would attack them, as they had strongly threatened that they will make sure the two are dead, Abassi and Kalisinje have been taken out of Mzuzu to their respective homes. We at the Muslim Association in Mzuzu are living in great fear and we are hiding for fear of our lives,” said an official from Mam’s Mzuzu office opting for anonymity.
About two weeks ago Muslims also went on the rampage in Mangochi and Blantyre where they burnt cars, churches resulting in several injuries.
President Muluzi, himself a Muslim, ordered the police last week to deal with anyone who perpetrated the violence in the name of religion. |
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