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Kenya 'expels hate-cleric again' | Kenya 'expels hate-cleric again' |
(1 day later) | |
Kenya has attempted to deport controversial Jamaican Muslim preacher Abdullah al-Faisal for a second time in two weeks, a court has been told. | Kenya has attempted to deport controversial Jamaican Muslim preacher Abdullah al-Faisal for a second time in two weeks, a court has been told. |
The government was ordered to produce Faisal, but state counsel Edwin Okello said: "The subject is no longer within the court's jurisdiction." | The government was ordered to produce Faisal, but state counsel Edwin Okello said: "The subject is no longer within the court's jurisdiction." |
Mr Okello said the cleric, convicted in the UK for soliciting murder of Jews and Hindus, was heading for Jamaica. | Mr Okello said the cleric, convicted in the UK for soliciting murder of Jews and Hindus, was heading for Jamaica. |
However, a minister later reportedly said Faisal remained in Kenya. | |
Several countries have refused him a transit visa, leaving him stranded. | Several countries have refused him a transit visa, leaving him stranded. |
The government says Faisal is being deported because of his "terrorist history". | The government says Faisal is being deported because of his "terrorist history". |
'Negotiating' | |
Several hours after Thursday's court hearing, Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang told local radio stations that Faisal was still in the country. | |
"The position, as I came in here, was that we were still negotiating with the airlines and the countries that would give us transit." | |
And Al-Amin Kimathi, leader of the Kenya Muslim Rights Forum, told the BBC the preacher was still at Nairobi airport. | |
Later, sources at the airport confirmed the plane had left but not until several hours after he had been due in court. | Later, sources at the airport confirmed the plane had left but not until several hours after he had been due in court. |
There is a heavy security presence in the coastal city of Mombasa on Friday, ahead of planned demonstrations against the government's treatment of Faisal by Muslim groups. | |
Similar protests in Nairobi last week turned violent, leaving at least one person dead. | |
Bomber connection | |
Faisal was deported from the UK in 2007 after spending four years in jail. | Faisal was deported from the UK in 2007 after spending four years in jail. |
The British government said one of the 7 July London suicide bombers, Germaine Lindsay, was heavily influenced by the cleric. | The British government said one of the 7 July London suicide bombers, Germaine Lindsay, was heavily influenced by the cleric. |
Shoe-bomber Richard Reid is said to have visited mosques where he preached in the UK. | Shoe-bomber Richard Reid is said to have visited mosques where he preached in the UK. |
Faisal has been in custody in Nairobi since his return from Nigeria. | Faisal has been in custody in Nairobi since his return from Nigeria. |
Muslim groups launched a protest against his detention last Friday, which turned violent. | Muslim groups launched a protest against his detention last Friday, which turned violent. |
Hundreds of people were arrested and seven people have been charged over the riots - including Mr Kimathi. | Hundreds of people were arrested and seven people have been charged over the riots - including Mr Kimathi. |
BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says religious tension is rare in Kenya. | BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says religious tension is rare in Kenya. |
But he says the controversy surrounding Faisal has caused some apprehension and with Muslims promising more demonstrations, it is not clear if this is a storm that has yet blown over. | But he says the controversy surrounding Faisal has caused some apprehension and with Muslims promising more demonstrations, it is not clear if this is a storm that has yet blown over. |