Police in the Kenyan capital Nairobi have arrested around 300 Somalis in connection with the riots that took place in the city last Friday. The riots broke out when a demonstration by Muslims erupted into a confrontation with police. The police fired assault rifles and tear gas into the crowd, killing five and injuring at least five others.
Many of the Somalis arrested have been living illegally in Kenya. Whether or not they all took part in the demonstration is unclear.
The demonstrators were protesting against the detention of a militant imam, Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, who was arrested on 31 December after hate speeches he made were found to violate Kenyanimmigration rules.
Mr Faisal has already served a four-year prison sentence in the United Kingdom for preaching racial hatred and urging his audiences to kill Jews, Hindus and Westerners. He was jailed in 2003 and deported from Britain in 2007. Kenya now wants to deport him to Tanzania or Gambia but the authorities there are refusing him entry and airlines are barring him from their flights.
The protests come amid deep-seated frustration amongst Kenya's Muslim community, which says it is being discriminated against. Muslims say they have come under increased scrutiny fromsecurity services and are being denied public service jobs.
Many of the Somalis arrested have been living illegally in Kenya. Whether or not they all took part in the demonstration is unclear.
The demonstrators were protesting against the detention of a militant imam, Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, who was arrested on 31 December after hate speeches he made were found to violate Kenyan
Mr Faisal has already served a four-year prison sentence in the United Kingdom for preaching racial hatred and urging his audiences to kill Jews, Hindus and Westerners. He was jailed in 2003 and deported from Britain in 2007. Kenya now wants to deport him to Tanzania or Gambia but the authorities there are refusing him entry and airlines are barring him from their flights.
The protests come amid deep-seated frustration amongst Kenya's Muslim community, which says it is being discriminated against. Muslims say they have come under increased scrutiny from
Kenya police arrest Muslim activist after riots Security forces raid Somali dominated suburb Kenyan police arrest over 300 suspected Somali militia supporters - |
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