|
Police ban anti-US demo in Zanzibar
2005-07-07 09:40:01
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Zanzibar police have banned a planned anti-US demonstration by the Organisation of Islamic Propagation (UAMSHO) to condemn the desecration of the Holy Q’uran at the US military camp in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba nearly three months ago.
The police warned yesterday that legal action would be taken against members of the organisation who disregard the order banning the demonstration.
The police said yesterday that they had written to UAMSHO warning that, if the demonstration was allowed to go on, it could scare away tourists and visitors who are currently on the Isles to attend the annual Film Festival Week.
This is the fourth time the police have banned a planned demonstration by UAMSHO to condemn the US soldiers for desecrating the Holy Book.
UAMSHO secretary-general, Abdallah Said Ali, told The Guardian that they wanted to express their feelings after US soldiers ’abused’ the Q’uran.
Abdallah said police did not have genuine reason to outlaw the demonstration.
’We are studying the situation, we may resort to a public rally instead of a demonstration,’ he said.
Muslims worldwide expressed their disgust with the US soldiers after Newsweek revealed the soldiers desecrated the Holy Book. Many Muslims, including Mainland Tanzania, have demonstrated against the behaviour by the American soldiers.
’We want to prove to the world that Muslims are not terrorists or extremists, but a peace-loving people,’ he said.
Islam is the main religion on the Isles.
In May, Muslims were allowed to hold a demonstration in Dar es Salaam, the highlight of which was a meeting with US embassy officials, during which a protest message for the US government was delivered.
|
