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Angry concerned Qadriya Muslims on Wednesday stormed the office of their chairman Alhaji Likonde at Biwi in Lilongwe demanding an explanation on when Muslims declared their allegiance to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Last week Likonde told Television Malawi and Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) that all Qadriya Muslims belong to the DPP.
In a petition to Likonde, the concerned Qadriya Muslims are demanding that he goes back to the two media houses and withdraw his remarks within three days, or else the entire committee would be dissolved.
The concerned Qadriya Muslims also accused Likonde of using Islam to get money from the DPP, citing his recent meeting with President Bingu wa Mutharika at the New State House without consulting the entire committee.
“We, Qadriya Muslims, will not allow three people to get rich in the name of Islam. We want the chairman of the Qadriya to go to MBC and TVM and announce that what he said that all Muslims are behind DPP is not true,” reads part of the petition.
The petition added that the Qadriya Muslims are ready to be arrested or die in defence of their religion, adding that they want Malawians to know that Islam will not be for any political party, or an individual but only “the Almighty Allah”.
The petition also said Muslims do not want a replica of what happened in 1999 where mosques were burnt after the UDF won the elections because many people associated the party with Islam.
“We want him to tell us whether this organisation is Qadriya Family Association or Qadriya Muslim Association,” added the petition.
Likonde allegedly absconded from the meeting and his vice Yasin Chande received the petition on his behalf.
Chande said as vice he was equally shocked to watch Likonde, saying on TVM that all Qadria Muslims are behind the DPP, adding that the committee has not met for close to one-and-a-half years.
He said he was not aware about the meeting with the President.
“Qadria has members from Karonga to Nsanje, with people of different political affiliations, so how can he say that all these people are behind DPP? Who did he consult?” queried Chande.
Heavily armed police with tear gas carnisters patrolled the meeting place allegedly after being tipped that some people were planning to cause violence.
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