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Muslim Cleric Attacked in Malawi Over Political Differences
BLANTYRE, June 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Malawi's controversial Muslim leader, Sheik Abdul Hamid Bughdad el-Banna, who has sharply criticized President Bakili Muluzi, was attacked early Wednesday in his home, police and hospital officials said.
Sheik Yusufu Nanyumba, an associate of Bughdad's, said about 100 people invaded Bughdad's residential compound in Machinga district, 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the commercial capital Blantyre, at around 3:00 am.
The group tied up his two guards and threw them into a ditch, he said.
"They then broke into his house, dragged him out of bed and beat him senseless using sticks and panga knives (machetes)," Nanyumba said.
A nurse at Liwonde Hospital confirmed that Bughdad was hospitalized and "is being treated for broken ribs and limbs. He bled so profusely."
Nanyumba said that before Bughdad passed out, he identified a number of "Young Democrats" of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in this African country of ten million people.
The "young democrats" have become notorious for beating up and intimidating the opposition in Malawi.
Bughadad heads the Sunni Muslim Supreme council of Malawi, a breakaway faction of the mainstream Muslim Association of Malawi. The two differ on ideological beliefs.
He came to local prominence last month when he led a group of 600 Muslims of his sect to deliver a hard-hitting "sheiks' letter" to Muluzi, which criticized the president on a number of democratic, social and economic issues.
Bughdad, along with four other senior Muslim clerics, were arrested and released on bail after being charged with leading an unlawful assembly.
Police in Liwonde said they were treating the incident as a burglary case because 60,000 kwacha (800 US dollars) and a set of kitchenware and cutlery were stolen from Bughdad's house.
But Bernard Male, coordinator for the National Democratic Alliance pressure group, dismissed this, saying, "The attack on the sheik smacked of political persecution."
He said Bughdad and his associates have been targets of political violence since they published their hard-hitting letter, and since openly declaring their support for the NDA, which has mounted a campaign to stop Muluzi from seeking a third term in office in 2004.
In 1994, Muluzi was voted into office to replace President Hastings Banda, who had ruled with an iron fist for 30 years. As former cabinet minister under Banda, he freed political prisoners and allowed freedom of expression.
He reshuffled his cabinet at the end of 2000 after coming under heavy criticism from donor countries and agencies, opposition parties, religious leaders and civil rights groups over his inaction in the face of reports of fraud and corruption in his government.
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