Amnesty International (AI), Country Reports 1994 and Reuters report that an Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) activist has not been seen since he was arrested in August 1994 (1995, 193; 1995, 116; 4 Nov. 1994). The Amnesty International report states that the government denied arresting the activist, Mohamed Wekessa, while Country Reports states that he was arrested and "supposedly" released (1995, 193; 1995, 116). The Reuters report quotes sources which corroborate both the government's denial and the arrest of Wekessa (4 Nov. 1994).

According to New African and Africa Research Bulletin, Sheikh Khalid Balala, the leader of the IPK lost his Kenyan citizenship and was refused a new passport by Kenyan officials in Germany (Feb. 1995, 29; 23 Jan. 1995, 11681). For additional information, please see the attached articles.

Additional information on whether any other IPK members have been arrested or detained by the authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 23 January 1995. Vol. 31, No. 12. "Kenya: Islamic Leader Loses Passport."

Amnesty International (AI). 1995. Amnesty International Report 1995. New York: Amnesty International USA.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

New African [London]. February 1995. No. 327. Radiala Onim. "Kenya: Bitter End for Balala?"

Reuters. 4 November 1994. "Police Break up Moslem Demonstration in Mombasa." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 23 January 1995. Vol. 31, No. 12. "Kenya: Islamic Leader Loses Passport," p. 11681.

New African [London]. February 1995. No. 327. Radiala Onim. "Kenya: Bitter End for Balala?" p. 29.

Reuters. 4 November 1994. "Police Break up Moslem Demonstration in Mombasa." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential. 1994-1995.

Africa Events. 1994.

Africa Report. 1994-1995.

Human Rights Watch/Africa. July 1995. Kenya: Old Habits Die Hard: Rights Abuses Follow Renewed Foreign Aid Commitments.

_____. July 1994. Kenya: Multypartyism Betrayed in Kenya.

Human Rights Watch World Report 1995. 1994.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 1994-1995.