Twist of Events as Kenyan Court Goes to Muslim Cleric’s Aid

Abdullah Al-Faisal - Seeking Help From The Courts

The raging debate on the controversial Jamaican preacher Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal took a new twist on Thursday after a court in Kenya granted orders to a rights group ordering the government to produce al-Faisal in court. However, according to a top government official, the government is finalizing some modalities that will see the cleric out of the country soonest possible as he stands to ‘poison’ Kenyans. He’s due to appear in court next week. Kenya Muslim Human Rights Forum chair Mr Al-Amin Kimathi had on Wednesday filed a suit compelling the Kenyan government from deporting the estranged cleric before the application is heard and determined.

Kenya government spokesperson Alfred Mutua told reporters on Thursday that al-Faisal is an unwanted person in Kenya. A persona non granta for security reasons: “Kenya considers al-Faisal to be a very dangerous man who will not be allowed to inspire our Kenyans into terrorism.” Sources say Gambian government has threatened to impound any aircraft that will fly the preacher to the West African nation. The Gambian government has denied there were arrangements with Kenya to have al-Faisal ‘dumped’ in Gambia. Kenya Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ on Monday said al-Faisul had chosen to go to the Gambia, but when he reached Nigeria on his way to Banjul, the authorities denied him a transit visa and put him on the next flight back.

The rights group argued in court that the cleric had entered the country lawfully and has not breached any laws to warrant detention or deportation. He’s currently held at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi pending deportation. The spokesman denied allegations that other countries have denied the cleric entry because of the drama that the Kenyan government has ignited on him. He added that world governments working hand in hand with Interpol has lists of persons in the watch-list and could be contravening international laws by housing them. Family members say al-Faisal was issued with a two-month visitor’s entry visa into Kenya. The government of Kenya has stated that it will do its best to see him handed to his government where he’s awaiting charges against him.

The move by the Kenyan government to hold al-Faisal in custody for long, extra-judicial detention, contradicts rights provided for under the constitution and international human rights convention according to Al-Amin. Al-Faisal was arrested in Mombasa Kenyan coastal city, and detained in police custody on new year eve and ever since, according to the rights group, he is being held incommunicado detention that amounts to psychological torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Al-Faisal served four years in a British jail for inciting murder and stirring racial hatred by urging followers to kill Americans, Hindus and Jews.

© 2010, Suleiman Mbatiah. All rights reserved. – Reproduction of Newstime Africa content on any other news medium without the prior consent or approval of the publishers is forbidden, and in direct contravention of International copyright laws. Violators will be pursued and prosecuted.