Ahlu Sunna Accuses Al-Shabaab of Killing Moderate Islamic Scholars

MOGADISHU, Somalia (TF.SF) - A spokesman for the moderate Islamist group of Ahlu Sunnah Waljama’ Sheik Abdirahman Abuu Yusuf accused al-Shabaab forces of killing moderate Islamic scholars who belong to their group in the city of Wanle Weyne in Lower Shabelle Region.
The spokesman said that the scholars were killed because they decide to lead Eid al-Fitr prayers on Monday instead of Sunday because of a dispute of whether the new moon was sighted or not.

“Up to three moderate Islamic scholars in the city of Wanla-weyn who are well-known and well-respected in the city were killed by al-Shabaab forces who also dispersed the people who gathered to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers” said the spokesman for Ahl Sunnah Waljama’a.

The spokesman added that many (moderate) Islamic scholars who belong to Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a have been sentenced to death by al-Shabaab and that they are aware of the situation and that senior Ahl Sunna Wal Jama’a scholars are keeping guard on the situation.

There is fierce animosity between Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a and al-Shabaab and the two groups have fought several times. The animosity between the two sides started after al-Shabaab forces began to dig the graves of well-known and well-respected Ahl Sunnah Wal Jama Islamic scholars. Moreover, Ahl Sunna Wal Jama’a supports Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) while al-Shabaab is waging deadly war against it in order to topple it.
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