Muslims blast NATO over Gadaffi

Aug 31, 2011

THOUSANDS of Muslims in Uganda yesterday marked Idd el-Fitr with their leaders urging them to pray for the embattled Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi, and an end to the war in Libya.

By Vision Reporters

THOUSANDS of Muslims in Uganda yesterday marked Idd el-Fitr with their leaders urging them to pray for the embattled Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi, and an end to the war in Libya.

Several Muslim leaders at the various mosques also attacked the western powers under NATO for intervening in the Libya crisis.

At the Gadaffi Mosque in Old Kampala, Mufti Sheikh Shaban Mubajje, hailed the Libyan leader for the gift of the mosque to the Ugandan Muslim community.

“Gadaffi built this mosque and we will continue calling it Gadaffi Mosque,” Mubajje said.

Mubajje also revealed that he had spoken on phone to Ugandan students in Libya and assured parents that their children were safe and being guarded by rebels.

Mubajje said there were 15 Ugandans at the World Islamic College in Tripoli.

The Mufti urged Muslim believers to pray for the return of peace to Libya and Arab countries like Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and Palestine.

Prayers at the Gadaffi Mosque were presided over by Imam Sheikh Rajab Kakooza.

The prayers were attended by Somali minister of defence Hasan Arab Ese, Somali ambassador to Uganda Sayid Ahmad as well as Adam Yusuf Muhammed, the Consul General of Sudan in Uganda.

The Somali defence minister thanked Uganda for its role in restoring stability in Somalia.

“Things are getting better and now the challenge is to maintain the peace. We thank Ugandans for the consistent help to the Somali cause,” he said.

At Nakivubo Stadium, the head of Nakasero Mosque, Sheikh Mohamed Kamoga, attacked NATO for the deaths of innocent civilians in Libya.

“We are deeply concerned that many of our brothers are dying like chicken at the hands of these hypocrites,” he said, adding that: “Some Western countries were hunting Col. Gadaffi to frustrate the unity of African countries.”

At the Clock Tower ground, the head of the tabliq community Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto, asked the Libyan rebels under National Transition Council and the Libyan government to negotiate for a peaceful end to the bloodshed.

Kakeeto further urged the rebels to consider the many privileges Gadaffi had put in Libya like free medical treatment, shelter and education.

In Arua, Sheikh Suleiman Juma Oba told the faithful that: “While we fasted during Ramadhan, our brothers in Libya and Syria were suffering under NATO. Let’s pray for them to achieve peace quickly.”

At the Kibuli mosque, Supreme Mufti Sheik Zubairi Kayongo made no reference to Gadaffi, but said the absence of virtuous leaders had turned the world into a bad place.

He asked leaders to be exemplary, trustworthy, sincere and kind towards their subjects.

“Leadership comes from Allah. Allah has entrusted you with the responsibility to lead His people. Do so without being unfair to some,” Kayongo noted.

He added that during Ramadhan, when these virtues have been evident, there has been relative calm in Uganda and the world.

Kayongo also said there was need for environmental conservation in Uganda because the environment is a gift from Allah.

He also asked MPs to set up a commission of inquiry into the rising cost of living in the country today.

Kansanga Mosque chairman Haji Abbey Bbumba asked youths to desist from gambling, saying the Koran forbids the act.


Additional reporting by Saudha Nakandha, Raymond Baguma, Brian Mayanja, Miriam Ochakolong, Andrew Ssenyonga, Yasin Kintu, Violet Nabatanzi, Henry Sekanjako and Jeff Lule

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