STOP DEMONISING MUSLIMS; STOP ISLAMOPHOBIA IN UGANDA !!!

POSTED HERE ON  30/3/2015

 

PRESS STATEMENT

 

STOP DEMONISING MUSLIMS; STOP ISLAMOPHOBIA

 

Kampala 29^th March 2015

 

This Sunday evening (29^th March 2015) we have watched with dismay, a similar report on at least two Television Stations namely NTV and Bukedde-1, about a man who was arrested at Rubaga Cathedral this morning during Palm Sunday mass, on suspicion of being a terrorist. The reason given was that he was suspected to be a Muslim as he had a beard. He was, however not Muslim. The OC Rubaga Police Station confirmed the basis of the suspicion – Islam.

 

We take exception this attitude of the police towards Muslims. The impression being created is that Muslims are murderers. It also could mean that a Muslim cannot go to a church unless s/he intends to kill people.  

 

Muslims in Uganda are already living in fear after the spate of prominent killings of Muslim leaders that was accompanied by arrests of other Muslim leaders and followers on charges related to murder, terror and endangering national security.Several Foundation Muslim schools known as Madrasa (plural Madaris) have also been closed down under all sorts of pretexts ranging from poor living standards to indoctrination of minors and terrorist recruitment. 

 

This Sunday’s incident points to a greater danger- that of possible mob justice against Muslims and /or persons suspected to be Muslims and therefore terrorists. Mob justice in Uganda is widespread. While it has so far targeted suspected thieves and those suspected of practicing witchcraft, there is the looming danger that Muslims will be next target. 

 

Uganda’ religious communities have lived in harmony since time immemorial. Often living in the same family or neighborhood or at places of work, Christians and Muslims  share the joys of the two Eids, Christmas, and Easter. Christians have built and contributed to building of Mosques. Muslims have built and contributed to building of churches.  Christians attend functions at mosques just as Muslims attend church functions. This trend of regarding Muslims as dangerous people and unwelcome, is worrying and should be condemned in the strongest terms and reversed, if Uganda is to remain the example of a truly multi-faith nation in the East African region it has been.

 

We call upon the Inspector General of Police to order that the Police officer at Rubaga Police Station who made the statement which in effect equated Muslim to terrorist - withdraws his statement and apologizes to the Muslim community and all well-meaning Ugandans.  

 

Islamophobia is steadily creeping into our society. Islamophobia, which is defined as “closed-minded prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslim” is wrong and should be condemned. Its close relative is Xenophobia –“an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange”.

 

We call upon all well-meaning Ugandans to condemn this trend in the strongest terms. We appeal to Media houses and outlets to check the increasing imagery in the reporting that places Muslims in sensationally negative light that threatens to turn the larger population against them.

 

For MUSLIM CENTRE FOR JUSTICE AND LAW

 

 

Jaffer Senganda

PRESIDENT

 

 

Jaffer Senganda
President, Muslim Centre for Justice and Law

+256772616221

skype Name: jaffer.senganda1

www.mcjl.ug

P.O.BOX 6929 Kampala,Uganda