Islamic Schools Under Scrutiny, Say Leaders

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
NEWS
January 5, 2004
Posted to the web January 5, 2004

By Athman Amran
Nairobi
The Government is investigating Islamic schools (madrassas) suspected of
harbouring terrorists, Muslim leaders have claimed.
The Ministry of Education has reportedly released forms to be filled by heads
of madrassas giving details about the schools' location, the number of enrolled
pupils and their source of funding.
The move has drawn protests from several Islamic organisations including the
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), the Chief Kadhi of Kenya Sheikh
Hammad Kassim, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) and the Lang'ata
Islamic Welfare Organisation.
CIPK secretary-general Sheikh Muhammad Dor described the directive as " a move
influenced by the American government in its bid to suppress Islam."
Dor said a similar exercise allegedly influenced by Americans had been carried
out in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, adding that Kenya was the first
African country to be asked to do so.
"We urge all madrassa heads not to comply with that directive since it does not
come from the Kenya Government but from a foreign one," Dor said.
Dor asked the Government not to interfere with madrassas as they do not operate
under the Education Act and did not get sponsorship from the State.
The Chief Kadhi criticised the move saying the Government should have consulted
with Islamic leaders before issuing the directive.
Kassim said the American Embassy had asked him to disclose the number of
madrassas in the country.
"I told them it was not easy to know since the schools were independent," the
Chief Kadhi said.

   

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