Kenya Deports Controversial Jamaican Muslim Cleric

Controversial - Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal

Kenya has deported radical Jamaican preacher Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal to Gambia. Sheik Al-Faisal was deported early today after being held at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for the better part of Wednesday. The Controversial Jamaican Muslim cleric Abdullah al-Faisal was deported from the country on Monday through Tanzania but returned to Kenya after authorities in Tanzania declined to receive him for security reasons. Kenyan’s Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang who signed his deportation order papers today said that the Muslim cleric was deported to the West African nation on his request.

“ We would have preferred to deport him in his native country but since we don’t have direct flights to Jamaica and the only option we had was to book him a flight that had to make a stopover in United State where his not welcomed, he opted for Gambia”, Kajwang added. Mr. Al-Faisal, born Trevor William Forrest, was convicted in Britain on terrorism-related charges and preaching hatred against Jews, Hindus, and the West in 2003 and deported on release in 2007. On arrival in Jamaica, the Islamic Council of Jamaica banned him from preaching in its mosques

Al-Faisal, was arrested on New Year’s Eve shortly after attending prayers at a mosque in Mombasa.He had entered the country from Tanzania through the Lunga Lunga border crossing at the Coastal town of Mombasa. Authorities said they had arrested him because of breaching the terms of his tourist visa, which did not allow him to preach.

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