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| Last Updated: Jun 25, 2010 - 4:28:38 AM |
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Somalia: Al-Shabaab leader calls on Muslims to fight democracy
25 Jun 25, 2010 - 3:40:02 AM
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GAROWE ONLINE
The radical leader of Somalia’s Islamist insurgent Al-Shabab group, Ahmed Abdi Godane aka Shaykh Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, has warned Muslims against supporting or implementing a democratic system of governance in their areas.
In an audio message sent to the media on Thursday, Al-Shabaab leader said Islamic shari'ah does not support elections and democracy.
“The first thing is the danger of what is being referred to as elections and democracy. Allah says anyone who follows a law that is not his and that is contrary to Allah's law, has fully become an unbeliever and left Allah's religion,” said Godane, while urging Muslims to fight democracy or move away from areas that is implemented.
“Every individual should fight democracy verbally, if necessary use his hands to fight democracy or leave the area where democracy is practiced,” he stated.
Although his message was not directed to any particular administration or country in the world however, it comes at a crucial moment when Somalia’s separatist republic of Somaliland, his native region, is going to the polls on Saturday to elect a new leader.
The incumbent president Dahir Riyale Kahin is faced with a powerful opposition lot led Ahmed Silanyo of Kulmiye party.
Meanwhile, two Al-Jazeera Arabic journalists have been barred from entering in the region to cover the elections, officials reported.
Jama Nur, and his cameraman were detained on Tuesday at the airport by security personnel after arriving from chaotic capital, Mogadishu. The journalists’ arrest and subsequently deportation were on orders from the Interior Minister, Mr Abdullahi Irro.
The order to expel the reporters was issued by Interior Minister, we were told that they have links with Islamist group Al-Shabaab, and we carried out the orders,” said a security official at the airport.
The channel has Mohammed Adow from English service in Hargeisa to join hundreds of journalists who flocked to the region to cover the elections.
©2010 All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this article for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Rebublication or redistribution of this report, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Garowe Online
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