Muslim leaders reject claims Islam permits kidnapping, killing
Muslim leaders in Uganda have publicly rejected claims that Islam justifies kidnapping and murder, following viral videos that attempted to link a high-profile criminal case to religious obligations. The leadership emphasized that such acts are crimes and do not reflect Islamic teachings.
Why it matters
This statement aims to prevent the radicalization of religious rhetoric and mitigate potential sectarian tensions following a controversial criminal trial.
Uganda's Muslim leadership has rejected claims that Islam permits the kidnapping of people for ransom and the killing of captives, saying such acts are serious crimes with no basis in the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
Deputy Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa and Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) National Chairperson Prof Dr Muhammadi Lubega Kisambira were responding to video clips circulating on social media in which two convicted individuals allegedly linked the 2018 kidnapping and murder of businesswoman Susan Magara to what they portrayed as an Islamic religious obligation.
Hajara Nakandi and Abbas Musa Buvvumbo were among nine people convicted by the High Court in connection with Magara's kidnapping and murder. Magara was abducted for ransom in 2018 and later killed.
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