Burkina Faso’s military ruler issues stern warning to Muslim clerics

The military ruler of the West African country of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, has issued a stern warning to the country’s Muslim clerics, saying the state’s “fight has begun” against radical Islam.
In a recent speech, Traoré said the government would take tough action if Islam was used as a tool for extremism. “If this is your Islam, we will fight it. The extremists must change. Otherwise, the fight has begun.”
He also defended the government’s controversial religious freedom law. He claimed that the new law would further strengthen the country’s secular state. At the same time, he warned that imams who spread extremism in their sermons would be temporarily suspended. However, he assured state support for clerics who preach peaceful Islam.
In May, Imam Mohamed Ishaq Kindo, one of the country’s most influential Sunni clerics, was arrested for criticizing a draft law on religious freedom. Authorities later closed the largest Sunni mosque in the capital, Ouagadougou, after protests demanding his release. About 100 of his supporters were then sent to a military camp under the guise of “civilian training.” Imam Mahmoud Baro was also detained on similar charges.
On June 20, the interim parliament unanimously passed a law on religious freedom. The law prohibits forcing children to beg, failing to ensure the financial transparency of religious institutions, and imposing fines and prison sentences for certain religious irregularities determined by the authorities. The government says the law will strengthen the secular constitutional framework. But critics say it is an attempt to increase state control over religious institutions.
According to analysts, the debate is not just about one law; Rather, the informal understanding reached with Muslim scholars after the military government seized power in 2022 is showing signs of breaking down. This could weaken the government’s political base and make it harder to deal with the long-running militant crisis.
Meanwhile, Traore has announced tougher measures against students studying Islam abroad. Religious studies abroad will not be allowed without government permission, and students studying abroad will have to return home. Otherwise, their citizenship will be revoked. At the same time, Burkina Faso is strengthening ties with Israel. Recently, Israel’s new ambassador to the country, Simon Seroussi, officially took office. The move is part of an initiative to increase security cooperation.

Source: The New Arab