Burkina Faso: Military leaders calls for a “moderate” islam
Leader of the Burkinabese military junta Ibrahim Traore held an extensive speech on the 26th of July, further detailing recent laws about religious practices. According to RFI, the Burkinabese leader has asked Muslim people to be “moderate”, while denouncing the establishment of extremist minorities in the country.
During his speech, Ibrahim Traore stated, “Extremists must come to their senses; the battle has begun. This is what has given rise to terrorism. We will suspend preachers from delivering sermons if they speak irresponsibly.” Traore further declared that imperialists use religion, and particulalry Islam, to destroy the country.
This speech t0ok place in a context of tension between religion and the state, echoing June’s protests after the arrest of Imam Kindo in May, which had criticised a new policy of banning religious signs in public buildings. One of the principal Sunni mosques in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital. Approximately 100 people were arrested, and concerns increased over the repression orchestrated by the military junta.
New religious regulations were added in June with an official government aim of making sure secularity is respected, while the authorities further added that they would foster social cohesion.
The leader of the junta further added that new measures taken against what he considers religious extremists were going to be implemented in July. The government will finance imams who preach a “positive message”. He further added that “Eight hundred and some thousand students are studying Sharia law abroad; they are not learning a profession. I will bring them back, and those who do not return will no longer be Burkinabese”.
Since the end of June, all Burkinabese students who wish to study abroad must get authorisation from the government proving the usefulness of the studies to the government.
Relations between Sunni figures in Burkina Faso were initially positive, as many joined Traore and supported his government. However, after multiple bills reducing the importance of religion in Burkina Faso, a portion of the muslim community strongly disagrees with the military junta.
“After having consolidated his authority, Traore methodologically dismantled yesterday’s supporters,” said an analyst to RFI.
Multiple imams and religious figures have been taken by the authorities in the past few months, with no news for their families. While Burkina Faso is fighting terrorism and extremist factions, the Burkinabese military junta has been accused by international NGOs of human rights violations.
RFI, Maghrebi.org
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