Kisumu Muslims Protest Israel's/Palestine War

KISUMU,

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

KNA by Ouko Millicent/Okumu Vera

The Winam Social Justice Center in partnership with Muslim Community in Kisumu town conducted a peaceful procession and prayer on Tuesday in protest of the ongoing attack by Israel on the Hamas.

The peaceful demonstrations began at the Star Hospital through Kenyatta Avenue and with the protesters converging at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground who condemned Israel's aggression against the Gaza Strip inhabitants in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

“We organized this demonstration to show solidarity with the persecuted people in Palestine. We want to urge all the leaders of the world including the Arab countries who have so much power to bring a ceasefire,” said Mariam Abel, the Kisumu nominated MCA representing the marginalized communities. 

Gaza, she added, whose population is 50% children below 15 years has recorded massive deaths and injuries and thousands of residents have lost their homes since the beginning of the war.

“We cannot live in a world where children are persecuted for the sins of the adults,” Mariam said.

Sheif Salim, the assistant Imam at the Jamia Mosque in Kisumu, urged Israel to stand by the truth and called for an urgent truce.

Israel, Salim continued, has often broken the promises of the treaties they have had with Palestine.

He cautioned that in the event that the people of Palestine succumbed to the war, Muslims across the globe would come out to fight for Palestine's land.

“Today, Hamas has stood by their rights and should not be labeled as terrorists as they are a group fighting for Palestine’s justice. For a long time, Palestine has been oppressed and demeaned but it has reached a time that Muslims across the world are fighting for the rights of Palestine,” he said.

According to Fatuma Wamboi, a Human Rights Activist from Winam Social Justice Centre, women, children, and the elderly are being killed without fault. They have been denied access to food and water, furthermore, attempts to rescue them have proven futile.

The Human Rights Council of the United Nations has been called upon to save children, women, and the elderly who are suffering because of the war in Palestine. The Council is tasked with strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe by addressing situations of human rights violations. 

Fatuma reiterated that a ceasefire should be reached between the two warring parties to avert further loss of lives and destruction of property.

Courtesy; KNA