Dhuujiye Posted August 12, 2009 Pakistani clerics slain in Somalia Map locates Galkayo, Somalia, where 5 Pakistani preachers were killed (W. Castello - AP) Enlarge Photo TOOLBOX Resize Print E-mail COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSEComments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging» Links to this article By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN The Associated Press Wednesday, August 12, 2009; 12:46 PM MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Masked gunmen stormed a mosque Wednesday in western Somalia, killing at least five Pakistani Muslim clerics in a country already bloodied by an Islamic insurgency and where al-Qaida is believed to be gaining a foothold. Authorities tried to find out who carried out the execution-style murders, and why. The victims belonged to the Islamic missionary movement Tablighi Jamaat, Pakistan's foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit told The Associated Press in Islamabad. Some extremists, including shoe bomber Richard Reid, have been linked to the group but Tablighi Jamaat is believed to be apolitical and nonviolent. Some of its members travel the world, preaching to fellow Muslims. "They have almost a rule of not discussing politics. They prefer to avoid it," said Ghaffar Hussain of Quilliam Foundation, a London-based think tank. "Their stance is quite conservative, quite puritanical. But they themselves are not ... extremist." Police surrounded the mosque after the horrific attack in town of Galkayo and said they were searching for suspects. No one immediately claimed responsibility. The gunmen entered the Tawfiq Mosque right after morning prayers, forced six Pakistani preachers and a Somali man out, and opened fire, said Ismail Mohamud Hassan, a witness. "Five of them died on the spot," Hassan told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Galkayo, 470 miles (750 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu. "Two others were injured - one Pakistani and a Somali." Nahar Hussein Gutale, who lives near the mosque, rushed from his home after hearing gunshots and saw several men fleeing and five men lying in a pool of blood. "They were screaming," he said. "They were on their last breath when I arrived at the scene. They died shortly after." He said police quickly arrived and fired into the air to disperse a crowd of onlookers before loading the corpses onto a pickup truck and speeding away. The victims were among 10 Pakistanis in the mosque who belonged to Tablighi Jamaat. All were from Dera Ghazi Khan in southern Punjab, Basit said. The bloodshed highlights the violent instability in Somalia, which has been caught up in vicious disputes for nearly two decades over ancient clan loyalties, religion and government. The country's lawlessness has spread security fears around region and raised concerns that al-Qaida is making inroads in the Horn of Africa. Somalia's Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake condemned the attack. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peacenow Posted August 13, 2009 I wonder why these people weren't in Dubai or Kuwait to preach why they come to Africa and spread taliban thoughts. Why do the arabs have starbucks and skyscrapers and they deny this to others? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar Posted August 13, 2009 Carab maxaa keenay now? Sadex Suufi kala nooc lee Soomaalida kala ahaayeen: Qaadiriya, Axmediya iyo Saalixiya. Laakiin dagaalkii sokeeye dhacay laga faa'ideystay, oo abkoow mid walba iska soo xaadiriye meesha. Walaa Tabliiq, walaa Salafi, walaa Salafijadiid, walaa Wahaabi -- kooxdaa aragtid Soomaaliya waa iska soo wada xaadiriyeen. Sadexdii hore ayaaba boos loo waayee kuwaana intee joogaan. Eebbe ha u naxariisto mar kale wadaadadaas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
