The Mufti of Rwanda, Salim Hitimana, has urged the Muslim community to shun extremism "ideology” but instead focus on efforts that promote peace, as well as working for own economic transformation.

Mufti Hitimana made the remarks, yesterday, during Eid prayers at Kigali Regional Stadium, in Nyamirambo.

The early morning prayers to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan attracted thousands of Muslim faithfuls, including some diplomatic envoys, among others.

The most sacred month of the year for Muslims had started on June 5.

Hitimana, emphasised that Islam is a religion of peace, explaining that of those who cause terror in the name of Islam go against the teachings of   the religion and Prophet Muhammad.

 "I repeat, Islam teaches respect and preserving the dignity of life, tolerance, co-existence and respect for all.

"It is, therefore, forbidden in Islam to take a life. Those who do so in the name of Islam are misleading and harbour ideologies that don’t reflect the true teachings of Islam. I call it ‘ideology’ because it is just that,” said Hitimana.

Hitimana called on parents to be watchful of their children, "particulary their mind-set on matters relating to the current distortions in the faith.

"We ask parents to work with the Rwandan Muslim community on guidance and avail us any information needed to keep law and order. We also ask Sheikhs to check their sermons; preaching messages that address the issue that have generally marred Islamic religion across the world.

"I ask you to focus on activities that would transform you economically, as well as your families, communities and country, because the leadership allows us equal opportunities for everyone,” Hitimana told the Muslim faithful. 

Ban on Niqab

Mufti Hitimana also announced that female Muslim community in Rwanda are barred from wearing Niqab or other facial veils worn by Muslim women around the world—a move, he says is aimed at ensuring security.

Niqab is a cloth that covers the face as a part of sartorial hijab. The Niqab is mostly worn in the Arab countries.

Hitimana said that, a decision was reached regarding the dress code for Muslim women, because Niqab has been used by terrorists to antagonise security, "not only in Rwanda but also across the world.”

He said that Quran asks  "women to covers all parts of the body but not their faces and the hands.”

 "We reached a conclusion that Niqab should not be used in our country, because some people have misused this dress code to carry out terrible activities such as terrorism—all in the name of Muslim faith—across the world, including  here in Rwanda,” he said

Sheikh Musa Sindayigaya, the Spokesperson of Muslim community in Rwanda, said that two girls wearing Naqib were recently arrested at the Kigali International Airport, before boarding a plane to an unknown place from where they were due to join the Islamist militant group Islamic State (IS).

While many Muslims, welcomed the decission  to ban Niqab as a genuine move to combat terrorism, Shainaz Batamuliza, 20, reckons it was not necessary since some Muslim women were accustomed to wearing Niqab.

"Of course the reasons for barring Niqab are genuine  because even some non-Muslims wear it for various reasons. But I want to believe that not all terrorists are Muslims, therefore there was no need to bar Niqab  since most of us were accustomed to wearing it,” Batamuliza said.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Abbas Mukama said that the new directive to ban Niqab in Rwanda is within the right context, "since the dress code only represents the Arab culture and not the Muslim faith.”

"No one should feel disgruntled about the ban on Niqab bearing in our minds that the style has been used for terrorism activities. It is hard to know whether one is a man.’’

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