Lamu Muslims Up in Arms Over Hotel Shower Graffiti 

Lamu Muslims Up in Arms Over Hotel Shower Graffiti

Oct 10, 2011 (Menafn - Nairobi Star/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --There was drama on Lamu island after hundreds of Muslim faithfuls stormed a hotel protesting against Islamic inscriptions in a swimming pool shower stall. The angry youths led by sheikhs, imams and civic leaders claimed the inscription was offensive because their religion does not allow 'Allahu' (God) to be written where people are naked.

They then moved to Petlizz bar where they overturned chairs and smashed glasses and beer bottles while calling for the closure of the recreational facility and threatening to set the building ablaze. Area Officer Commanding Station Francis Tumbo was forced to intervene and closed two bars on the premises to ease the tension. Security personnel had a hard time controlling the youths and it took the intervention of councillors, imams and the police to cool them down.

However, they camped outside the building demanding the arrest of the girl, Rahima, they claim wrote on the wall. "This is very wrong. How can a person write the name of Allah at a place where people go naked to take a bath and do other evil things? We want action to be taken against the suspect and we shall not move until she is arrested," a protester shouted outside the bar.

The protestors remained at the hotel for more than four hours chanting the Takhbir solidarity slogan and the Muslim call to mass action while condemning the act. Security personnel from the police and Kenya Army kept vigil and monitored the building. Mohamed Abdulkhadir from the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics who was present at the protests condemened the act saying it could trigger chaos because it had offended the Islamic faith.

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