Document #1171434
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Specific information on the treatment of
Ismaili Muslims in Kenya between 1996 and 1998 could not be found
among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, following bomb attacks on United
States' embassies in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam in August 1998, the
government reportedly banned five Islamic non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) (AFP 14 Sept. 1998; The Indian Ocean
Newsletter 12 Sept. 1998). This action was strongly criticized
by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, which stated it was
"provocative, discriminatory, vindictive, anti-Muslim and
anti-Islam" (AFP 10 Sept. 1998). The Supreme Council further
alleged that Kenyan Muslims have been targets for harassment and
intimidation (ibid.), and threatened to stage a nation-wide protest
(KTN Television 10 Sept.1998). Consequently, protests were staged
in Mombasa, with demonstrators from the coastal districts of Kwale,
Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Taita/Taveta (Africa Research
Bulletin Oct.1998, 13264).
In Nairobi, the Supreme Council of Kenya
Muslims reportedly met with President Moi in an attempt to
moderate. The president allegedly promised to set up a committee
"to report on the activities of the banned Islamic NGOs"
(ibid.).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate 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.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 14 September
1998. "Crackdown on Moslem NGOs in Kenya Sparks New Protests."
(NEXIS)
Africa Research Bulletin: Political,
Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. October 1998. Vol. 35.
No. 10. "Kenya: Muslims Divided."
The Indian Ocean Newsletter
[Paris]. 12 September 1998. "Banned Islamic NGOs." (NEXIS)
AFP. 10 September 1998. "Kenya Moslems
Demand Reinstatement of Islamic NGO's." [Internet] http://wnc.fedworld.gov [accessed 14
Sept. 1998].
Kenya Television Network (KTN)
Television. 10 September 1998. "Kenya: Kenya Muslim Council
Threatens Nation-wide Protest." [Internet] http://wnc.fedworld.gov [accessed 14
Sept. 1998].
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London].
1997-1998. Vols. 38-39. Nos. 1-25.
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices 1997. 1998. United States Department of State.
Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases,
LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).
Two oral sources consulted did not
provide information on the requested subject.