Muslim rights activist Mr Al-amin Kimanthi is led to the High Court basement cell after his arrest January 18, 2010. His group had called a protest march to demand release of a radical Muslim cleric. Photo/PAUL WAWERU
By SAM KIPLAGATPosted Monday, January 18 2010 at 11:07
A Muslim rights activist was arrested Monday, days after a march called to protest the continued detention of a radical Jamaican cleric turned violent in Nairob Mr Al Amin Kimathi was arrested at the Nairobi Law Courts minutes after seven youths appeared before the High Court for their involvement in Friday's chaotic protest.Reinforcements were summoned after his supporters and lawyers tried to stop police officers former carrying out the arrest.A court orderly whipped out a whistle and blew it calling for fellow warders and police officers as youths and women accompanying Mr Kimathi protested his arrest.He was in court for the hearing of a case where seven youths denied assaulting police officers and malicious damage to property. Word had been circulated that the activist would be arrested soon after the court session.Soon after the session, Mr Kimathi and youths left the courtroom headed outside but noticed heavy presence of police officers and changed their route. They were unlucky as more police officers waited in the opposite direction.It was the warders who took advantage of the confusion and pounced on Mr Kimathi as his lawyers vehemently resisted the arrest.He was held at prison cells briefly before he was removed, already handcuffed and taken into a waiting vehicle. Another land rover followed behind as he was taken away. In court, seven people among them a student, were charged with assaulting five police officers and malicious destruction of property during last Friday’s protest outside Jamia Mosque.The alleged student was released on a bond of Sh100,000 with one surety while his co-accused were asked to deposit cash bail of Sh100,000 to secure their release.The case will be heard on March 17.Mr Kimathi is the chair of the Muslim Human Rights Forum that organised the Friday demonstration, which left one person dead.The demo had been called to demand the release of controversial Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal, who is on an international terror watch list.He was arrested on New Year's eve and was initially deported to The Gambia but was returned to the country a week ago after Nigeria refused to grant him passage.
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