Press Release
The Prevention of Terrorism (Amendments), Another Twist to Attack Islam

On 5 July 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta assented the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act 2019 – No. 21 of 2019 that included the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The signing introduced State agencies, which include the National Police Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Prisons Service and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to membership of the Counter-Terrorism Centre. This is in line with the Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2018 which seeks to ensure that all Educational bodies as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) along with religious groups are fully collaborating with other state agencies in enacting special programs to counter radicalization. Once assented into a law, then school administrators will be required to keep and update records for all students in schools. Teachers on the other side will be sensitized to monitor any element of radicalism among students. Apart from that, is Prevention of Terrorism Act No.30, which suggests 20 and 30 years imprisonment for people convicted with acts of terror.

In the context of these legislations, we would like to highlight the following:
‘War on terror' is now taking a wider twist risking the lives of the citizens of this country specifically the Muslim faithful who are the prime target of entire anti-terror campaign. The Kenyan police, well known in having poor records on violations of fundamental human rights, through these legislation the Government granted them more powers which we feel the police along with other introduced security apparatus will aggressively oppress the Muslim community.

The inclusion of schools, Non-Governmental Institutions as well Islamic organizations in the so called war on terror is to instigate fear and horror among the Muslims to spy one another, the vicious act which indeed has been prohibited by Islam. In this regard, we wish to warn Muslim parents, Muslim teachers and all stakeholders in all institutions not to fall in the enemies’ intention of waging a global war against Islam as this act will lead them into humiliation in this world and the Hereafter face the severe punishment of Allah (swt). As we wish also to remind every single Muslim that has a duty to work as a true ambassador in conveying the pure and noble message of Islam that prohibits violence and terror as means to bring the radical change. Whenever they are, Muslims are responsible in upholding the Islamic values and its identities.

Definitions of the terms: extremist belief and radicalization should be put under thorough scrutiny, as we feel these terms are often used to squarely squeeze the understanding of Islam to mean as merely a spiritual religion rather than an ideology. Furthermore, we see these terminologies as an attempt to deter Muslims from their adherence of their religious obligations, pushing them to the extent they fear to call for Islamic rulings pertaining to social, economic and political systems. Furthermore, we perceive the stipulated fundamental personal rights such as freedom of belief and freedom of opinion as enshrined in the Constitution will be violated. We understand and despite Kenya having numerous wicked politicians who incite the public to violence for their selfish political interests, none of them will be convicted as extremist or radicalists!

As we continue to reiterate that the anti-terror laws are targeting none other than the Islamic community. Indeed, the laws are a part of the US led global campaign aiming at attacking Islamic concepts. Additionally, they are enacted to instigate fear in the hearts of Muslims to abandon Islam and putting them under pressure to embrace the corrupt secular thoughts, which contradict their Deen. This campaign is gearing towards preventing Islam to lead the world in political, economic, social and educational arena via the soon to be reestablished Khilafah (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophet (saw) whose time is approaching very fast. In Shaa Allah.

Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya