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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Mobs torch houses in Nigeria's main Islamic city |
| 2007-07-21 |
| Mobs have burned down houses in Shiite neighbourhoods of Nigeria's main Islamic city, in apparent reprisal for the murder this week of a radical Sunni Muslim cleric. Hundreds of people stormed through Shiite neighbourhoods of the city "and started burning down the houses in anger," witnesses said. Abubakar Mohammed, spokesman for the Shiite community in Sokoto, said around 20 houses belonging to members of his community were razed. Mr Mohammed said the local Shiite leader, Kassimu Umar, and 20 of his followers had been detained by police in connection with the killing. The truck transporting them to the police station had been attacked by a stone-throwing mob. A Sokoto police spokesman, Mohammed Umar-Dasingalri, appealed for calm in the city which is the seat of the Sultan of Sokoto, spiritual head of Nigeria's estimated 70 million Muslims, who are mostly Sunni. Shiites blamed Sunnis have blamed Shiites for the murder, raising fears of clashes. Prominent Sunni cleric, Umar Dan-Maishiya, was shot on Wednesday (local time) shortly after speaking at the city's central mosque. He was buried on Thursday at the tomb of Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in Nigeria. Sokoto, headquarters of Islam in Nigeria, two years ago witnessed bloody clashes between the Sunni and Shiite sects over the right to worship at the central mosque. The murdered cleric was said to have spearheaded the attack against the Shiites during the 2005 clashes. He was arrested and released just two months ago. Northern Nigeria is majority Muslim, although large Christian minorities have settled in the main towns. Since 1999 and the return of a civilian regime, 12 northern states have introduced Islamic Sharia law. The region has a long history of religious clashes which mostly start after the traditional Friday Jumat worship. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 How long will it be before this happens in Michigan? |
| Posted by: Grumenk Philalzabod0723 2007-07-21 12:20 |
| #4 See the bright side : at least, when the nigerian muzzies are killing each others based on turban color, they're not killing christians. So, it's true, islam IS peace, see? |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2007-07-21 11:47 |
| #3 be a good time to take a potshot at the leading Shiite Cleric. Elevate the festivities to Islamic Rage Boy™ level |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-21 11:16 |
| #2 Just a bit of Family Recreational Burning. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2007-07-21 10:01 |
| #1 Let me see, jalapeno popcorn? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-07-21 09:31 |