Alwaght-Muslim leaders in Kenya have condemned the recent visit to the country by Israeli regime’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking after Eid ul Fitr prayers at the coastal city of Mombasa, the leaders warned that expanding security, diplomatic and technology ties with the Israeli regime amounts to endorsing Tel Aviv’s oppressive policies against Palestinians and occupation of Palestinian territories including the Holy City of al Quds (Jerusalem).
The senator of Mombasa region Hassan Omar pointed out that technology and agricultural deals signed between Nairobi and Tel Aviv to promote irrigation were a scam because, "many nations have this technology".
The senator argued that Kenya could still secure such assistance from other nations with a good human rights record.
A leading Islamic scholar and former Chief Kadhi of Kenya Sheikh Hamad Kassim Mazrui declared that increased cooperation with Israeli institutions is likely to enable Mossad to participate in security sweeps targeting Muslim youths and clerics and even secular activists.
He said Israel's growing interest and influence in Kenya is cause for alarm at a time when extra-judicial killing of Muslim youths and clerics and secular lawyers was on the rise. Sheikh Kassim argued that African nations must not entrench ties with Israel before it changes its policies in the historic Palestine and the West Asia. "We don't understand how African nations that have fought to end racism are cooperating with an apartheid state," said Sheikh Kassim.
He argued that "our country is joining hands with nations that kill in broad daylight. "We are not opposed to the Jewish people. Muslims and Jews have co-existed for centuries. What we are opposed to is the Zionist regime," said local MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.
According to a report by the Standard daily, these sentiments were echoed at various squares, mosques and streets where clerics warned that deals between Netanyahu and President Uhuru Kenyatta might allow Israeli regime’s notorious Mossad spy agency unfettered access inside Kenya to the detriment of those who oppose the Israeli regime.
They declared that their opposition to Netanyahu and Zionism did not extend to the Jewish people who they said have co-existed with Muslims for centuries and that their prophets are revered by Islam.
Meanwhile ordinary Kenyans have expressed disgust at Netanyahu’s visit to Nairobi which resulted in massive traffic jams and inconveniences to the city’s three million residents.
