Kenyan Rights Team Calls for New Approach in War on Terror
Kenya Nation
The officials said the government should not break the law as this has proved to be counterproductive.
In Summary
The Muslim human rights outfit board chairman, Mr Khelef Khalifa, said the summons were illegal but they decided to comply so as not to give the government any excuse.
The leaders were in the third batch of those summoned for interrogation by detectives drawn from the National Intelligence Service and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
The team was accompanied by Catholic priest Father Gabriel Dolan, human rights activist Maina Kiai and a legal officer.
The Muslims for Human Rights officials on Wednesday denied any links to the Al-Shabaab militia and instead asked the government to change its approach in the fight against terrorism.
The officials appeared before the anti terrorism detectives and warned that the government’s approach was strengthening support for radical Islamists. They said approach was biased and had double standards.
The officials said the government should not break the law as this has proved to be counterproductive.
They dared the government to charge them if it had evidence linking the organisation to terrorism.
Last week, the Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet published in the Kenya Gazette, the names of individuals, organisations and foreign exchange agencies suspected to be aiding terrorists in the country. Their accounts were also frozen.
The Muslim human rights outfit board chairman, Mr Khelef Khalifa, said the summons were illegal but they decided to comply so as not to give the government any excuse.
“We only learnt through the media that we were required to appear before the detectives. We have never been, and will never be associated with the terrorist group,” he said.
The leaders were in the third batch of those summoned for interrogation by detectives drawn from the National Intelligence Service and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
The team was accompanied by Catholic priest Father Gabriel Dolan, human rights activist Maina Kiai and a legal officer.
One of those interrogated by the detectives told the Nation he only saw his name in the media and decided to travel to Nairobi from Garbatula.
“I saw my name and decided to come. I was given questions to answer and they told me to go back home and wait for further communication,” he said.
There have not been specific allegations against those summoned to appear before the detectives.
However, some of the questions on the 10-page questionnaire sought to know the individuals’ finances in the last two years, bank statements, owners of the companies, affiliations, communication, phone details among other things.
The officials said the government should not break the law as this has proved to be counterproductive.
In Summary
The Muslim human rights outfit board chairman, Mr Khelef Khalifa, said the summons were illegal but they decided to comply so as not to give the government any excuse.
The leaders were in the third batch of those summoned for interrogation by detectives drawn from the National Intelligence Service and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
The team was accompanied by Catholic priest Father Gabriel Dolan, human rights activist Maina Kiai and a legal officer.
The Muslims for Human Rights officials on Wednesday denied any links to the Al-Shabaab militia and instead asked the government to change its approach in the fight against terrorism.
The officials appeared before the anti terrorism detectives and warned that the government’s approach was strengthening support for radical Islamists. They said approach was biased and had double standards.
The officials said the government should not break the law as this has proved to be counterproductive.
They dared the government to charge them if it had evidence linking the organisation to terrorism.
Last week, the Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet published in the Kenya Gazette, the names of individuals, organisations and foreign exchange agencies suspected to be aiding terrorists in the country. Their accounts were also frozen.
The Muslim human rights outfit board chairman, Mr Khelef Khalifa, said the summons were illegal but they decided to comply so as not to give the government any excuse.
“We only learnt through the media that we were required to appear before the detectives. We have never been, and will never be associated with the terrorist group,” he said.
The leaders were in the third batch of those summoned for interrogation by detectives drawn from the National Intelligence Service and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
The team was accompanied by Catholic priest Father Gabriel Dolan, human rights activist Maina Kiai and a legal officer.
One of those interrogated by the detectives told the Nation he only saw his name in the media and decided to travel to Nairobi from Garbatula.
“I saw my name and decided to come. I was given questions to answer and they told me to go back home and wait for further communication,” he said.
There have not been specific allegations against those summoned to appear before the detectives.
However, some of the questions on the 10-page questionnaire sought to know the individuals’ finances in the last two years, bank statements, owners of the companies, affiliations, communication, phone details among other things.
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