The Rise of Jihad, Killing of ‘Apostate Imams’ and Non-Combatant Christian Civilians in Kenya Al-Shabaab’s Re- Definition of the Enemy on Religious Lines
Main Article Content
Keywords
Al-shabaab, Islam, Jihad, Islamist, Non-Muslim, Kenya
Abstract
Since the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) deployment into Somalia in 2011, terrorist related attacks have increased targeting anti-jihadi Muslim clerics, churches and noncombatant Christian civilians. These and other attacks indicated the rise of a homegrown radicalised section of the Muslim population in Kenya, willing to undertake jihad and kill fellow citizens in the name of Islam. In this regard, the article explores the intra-Muslims conflict emanating due to divergent views on the concept of jihad, and how ultimately the variances are supposedly resolved by imposing the apostasy claim on the opposing clerics. In varied occasions, suspected al-Shabaab militants and their Kenya jihadist counterparts have attacked churches, and killed non-combatant Christian civilians. The atrocious killing of both anti-jihadi Muslim clerics and non-combatant Christian civilians, and coupled with the exclusivist jihadi supported discourse imply the conflict is transforming into a broad-based violence between Muslims and non-Muslims. Therefore, this paper identifies three arguments associated with the jihad discourse in Kenya; (i) rationalising the jihad cause in the present ethno-nationalist Somali war; (ii) the apostasy claim arising due to intra-Muslims conflict boosted by the jihad discourse; and (iii) the justification of targeting non combatant Christian civilians during the ‘jihad’ attacks.
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References
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Nzau Musau, (2014). "Smell of death still evident in targeted bus" The Standard, Monday, November 24, p6.
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Adow Mohamed, (2014). "Suffering the consequences: Strategy of segregationist massacres catches dysfunctional security establishment off-guard", Weekend Star, November 6/7, 2014, p2.
Athman Amran, (2014). "Terror police investigating 6 individuals", Coast This Week, January 3-9 2014, Issue 86, p4.
Anwar Saleh, "Westgate", Gaidi Mtaani, Issue 4, Dul Hijja 1434, pp14-19.
Avraham Ben Adam, (2015). "Al-Muhajiroun: Al-Qaeda's New Branch in Kenya." Accessed December 28, 2016: http://intelligencebriefs.com/almuhajiroun-al-qaedasnew-branch-in-kenya/.
Benard Sanga and Stanley Mwahanga, (2014). "Radical cleric Sheikh Abubakar Shariff alias Makaburi shot dead", The Standard, Wednesday, April 2. Accessed on February 26, 2016: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000108386/radical-cleric-sheikhabubakar-shariff-alias-makaburi-shot-dead.
Benard Sanga, (2014). "Battle between radical, moderate Muslims fuelled tension",Sunday Standard, December 14, p26.
Benjamin Muindi, (2014). "Leave Mandera over attacks, six unions tell their members", Daily Nation, Tuesday, November 25, p4.
Bill Roggio, (2012). "Kenyan Muslims riot after murder of Shabaab-linked cleric", The Long War Journal, August 28. Accesses on February 26, 2016: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/08/kenyan_muslims_riot.php.
Calvin Onsarigo and Alloys Musyoka, (2013). "Muslim youth attack Mombasa sheikh", Weekend Star, December 28/29, p6.
Cyrus Ombati, (2014). "Gunmen kill chairman of Council of Imam and Preachers of Kenya Mohamed Idris", The Standard, Tuesday, June 10. Accessed on February 26, 2016: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000124224/gunmen-kill-chairman-of-councilof-imam-and-preachers-of-kenya-mohammed-idris.
Daniel Howden, (2013). "Terror in Westgate mall: the full story of the attacks that devastated Kenya", The Guardian. Accessed on February 26, 2016: http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/oct/04/westgate-mall-attackskenya-terror#undefined.
David M. Anderson, (2014). "Why Mpeketoni matters: al-Shabaab and violence in Kenya", Norwegian Peace-building Resource Centre, pp1-5.
David Ochami, (2015). "Al-Shabaab releases chilling video about Mpeketoni attack", The Standard, Monday, March 9, p6.
David Ochami, (2015). "Cables claim Makaburi plotted to kill preachers", The Standard, Saturday, March 7, p6.
David Ochami, (2015). "KDF scores major victory with last week's killing of Al-Shabaab militia," The Standard, Sunday, June 21, p20.
David Oginde, (2015). "We must confront the religious question in the war on terror", The Standard, Monday, April 5, p3.
David Ochami, (2015). "KDF scores major victory with last week's killing of Al-Shabaab militia," The Standard, Sunday, June 21, p20.
David Oginde, (2015). "Muslim leaders may hold key to counter-terrorism bid", The Standard, Sunday, November 30, p15.
Evgenia Gvozdeva, (2015). "Tanzania/Kenya: New Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group "Al-Muhajiroun in East Africa" issues threat against western targets." Accessed on December 28, 2016: http://www.esisc.org/publications/analyses/tanzaniakenya-new-al-qaedalinked-terrorist-group-al-muhajiroun-in-east-africa-issues-threat-against-western-targets.
Fred Mukinda and Aggrey Mutambo, (2015). "147 Students killed in cold-blooded raid on campus" Daily Nation, Friday, April 3, pp4-5.
Fred Oluoch, (2015). "Security agents pursue new terrorist group in the East Africa region", The East African, Saturday, April 25. Accessed on December 28, 2016: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Security-agents-pursue-new-terrorist-group-in-East-Africa/2558-2696970-mas8l0z/index.html.
Galgalo Bocha, (2016). "Mombasa: 4 killed Aboud Rogo style", Daily Nation, Friday, October 4, 2013. Accessed on February 26, 2016: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Sheikh-Abubakar-Sheriff-alias-Makaburi-/-/1056/2018322/-/1voake/-/index.html
Hassan J. Ndzovu, (2014). Muslims in Kenyan Politics: Political Involvement, Marginalization and Minority Status. Evanston: Northwestern University Press. https://doi.org/10.26530/OAPEN_628770
Hassan Mwakimako and Justin Willis, (2014), "Islam, Politics and Violence on the Kenyan Coast", July 2014, Observatory Analysis on Political and Security Issues in the Horn of Africa, pp1-26.
Ishaq Jumbe and Patrick Beja, (2013). "Mombasa Imams alarmed as radicalized Muslim youth take over popular mosques, police fear moving in might anger even moderate faithful", The Standard, Tuesday, December 3.
"Jihad in Kenya", Vice News, (2014). A video accessed on February 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcwokHau8Xk.
John O. Voll, (2015). "Boko Haram: Religion and Violence in the 21st Century", Religions, 6, pp1182-1202. Accessed at www.mdpi.com/journal/religions, on February 2016. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel6041182
Joseph Akwiri, (2014). "Why the fight against radicalization will give rise to more resistance", Coast This week, January 3-9, Issue 86, p3.
Kat Nickerson, (2014). "Kenyan Terrorism Evolves: The Emergence of al-Hijra (Muslim Youth Center)." Accessed on December 28, 2016:https://katsafrica.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/kenyan-terrorism-evolves-theemergence-of-al-hijra-muslim-youth-center/.
Kipkoech Tanui, (2014). "How to beat terrorists in their game", The Standard, Friday, November 29, p15.
Manase Otsialo, (2014). "Massacre survivors recall night of horror", Daily Nation, Thursday, December 4, p1.
Martin Cuddihy, (2014). "Gunmen massacre 36 quarry workers while they sleep in northeast Kenya
President sacks minister, police chief", December 3. Accessed on February 27, 2016: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-02/gunmen-slaughter-36-in-freshnortheast-kenya-attack/5935012.
"Mpeketoni: Reclaiming back Muslim lands under Kenya Occupation", Al-Shabaab video, Al-Kataib Production, 2014.
"Muslim leaders want arrest of clerics' killers", Coast This week, January 3-9 2014, Issue 86, p2.
Manase Otsialo, (2014). "Massacre survivors recall night of horror", Daily Nation, Thursday, December 4, pp1-4, 5.
Matt Bryden, (2015). "The Decline and Fall of Al-Shabaab?: Think again," SAHAN: Pathfinders in Policy and Practice, pp1-12.
Nzau Musau, (2014). "Smell of death still evident in targeted bus" The Standard, Monday, November 24, p6.
Philip Mwakio and Benard Sanga, (2013). "Likoni church torched amid rising tension", The Standard, Saturday, December 28, p7.
Press Office, "Sheikh Aboud Rogo's Death: A Catalyst for Change", Gaidi Mtaani, Issue 3, Rabi Al-Thani 1434, p5.
Quinton Wiktorowicz, (2005). "A Genealogy of Radical Islam", Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 28, pp. 75-97.https://doi.org/10.1080/10576100590905057
Rob Bleaney, (2013). "Nairobi terrorist attacks: Live updates as Kenyan forces mount gun battle to end shopping mall crisis", Mirror, September 23. Accessed on February 25, 2016: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nairobi-terrorist-attacks-live-updates-2294469.
Samuel Makinda, (2015). "How to cripple killer militia, which thrives on our weaknesses", The Standard, Saturday, April 11, p4.
Sheikh Aboud Rogo (2012). Sermon, "Ulazima wa Kupigana na Mayahudi na Wakristo", Video, Ahlul-Kahf.
The Standard Team, (2016). "Fugitive Kenyan al-Shabaab terrorist resurfaces with more threats," Sunday, February 28. Accessed on December 28, 2016: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000193248/fugitive-kenyan-al-shabaabterrorist-resurfaces-with-more-threats.
Thomas Joscelyn, (2016). "American charged with supporting shabaab, serving in 'specialized fighting force", January 11. Accessed on December 28, 2016: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/01/american-charged-with-supportingshabaab-serving-in-specialized-fighting-force.php.
Virginie Andre, (2015). "Violent Jihad and Beheadings in the Land of Al Fatoni Darussalam", Religions, 6, pp1203-1216, www.mdpi.com/journal/religions. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel6041203
"Was Badru Nairobi Operation a Cowardly Act?" Gaidi Mtaani, Issue 4, Dul Hijja 1434, pp20-23.
"Westgate Operation: Those who live in Glass Houses Should not Throw Stone", Gaidi Mtaani, Issue 4, Dul Hijja 1434, pp12-15.
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Sep 30, 2024
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The Rise of Jihad, Killing of ‘Apostate Imams’ and Non-Combatant Christian Civilians in Kenya: Al-Shabaab’s Re- Definition of the Enemy on Religious Lines. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 3(1), 4-20. https://doi.org/10.36615/za5nkp29
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How to Cite
The Rise of Jihad, Killing of ‘Apostate Imams’ and Non-Combatant Christian Civilians in Kenya: Al-Shabaab’s Re- Definition of the Enemy on Religious Lines. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 3(1), 4-20. https://doi.org/10.36615/za5nkp29