I REFUSE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE AL-SHABAAB

Saturday morning.

I log into my Twitter account and check on what is trending. I notice that #MyDressMyChoice has been replaced by #ManderaBusAttack. I click on the link and the first image is too much for me. I cry. Log off. Try to forget the images for the rest of the day (That is why I was bored @Happie and Winnie)

May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
I stand as a Muslim to condemn the heinous act that took place on Saturday. That Said........

Sunday Afternoon

I decide to watch clips about the attack on YouTube, I don't get past the first three minutes.I log on to Twitter, the topic is still trending. I go through the images then come upon a screen shot of a post made on some group on Facebook called "Bungle la Mwananchi" which has tuned into an e-war zone.

Below are some of the posts I found on the page: (the image on the left is the screenshot and whoever posted it seems to be wearing a Kenyan security agency uniform on his profile)

Let me make some things very clear:

I will not apologize for the killings made by a group of lunatics who claim that they fight for a religion because what I got very clearly from my Madrasa is that Allah does not need to be fought for, He needs praise and Worship. Allah does not ask for blood in His name, He made blood to run in our veins, to keep us alive. Allah is powerful, He does not need humans to fight for Him.

I will not apologize for Al-shabaab because being a Muslim does not give me an automatic membership to this group. No. I have never killed anyone, let alone make an innocent Kenyan lie die down and blow his head off. As a matter of fact, I am a Nurse, I take care of the wounded. Who would have thought of such a thing, a Muslim Nurse? Mh.

I am definitely not going to apologize for Al-Shabaab because they do not represent me. Contrary to common opinion, Al-Shabaab is not the International Muslim Association. No. I do not know which scripture they follow, I have no idea who interprets the Quran for them because its definitely not my Ustadh. So before you claim that the Quran encourages murder, take some time off Twitter, Facebook and whatever else you do on the Internet and read it online. Unless you think that all Muslims conspired to change the scripture over night so as to contradict your opinion on the teachings.

Thika Road Explosions
I remember I was headed to a Family get together when this happened. I was in a matatu and just a few minutes from Homeland when my relatives started calling me frantically. I got to know of the explosions from them before I passed the scene of the explosion a few minutes later. A woman behind me said, "Hawa watu warudi kwao". I kept quiet. Notice that I was called to be informed of the happenings, I did not have prior knowledge of the explosions despite my being Muslim.

Where exactly is "Kwetu?" I am Kenyan. This is my home. No one is LETTING me stay. I BELONG here.
In town, according to my 'Non-Muslim' friend, a Somali man is chased by a group of touts and idlers all the way from Bus Station.


Yes, I am Muslim. Islam is my religion.

But No, I am not a terrorist. I used to tell my friends in campus that each time there is a terrorist attack in the city, people look at me suspiciously, i referred to it as "The Eye". They did not believe me until the Gikomba Blasts. My friend accompanied me to town and we had to board a bus and when we sat  down, she whispered "Its true". I am not responsible for the terrorist attacks in Kenya or anywhere else. Branding every Muslim a terrorist would be synonymous to branding Americans terrorists just because Bush decided to invade Iraq (That qualifies as terror too). Or branding every Christian a thief in regards to Kanyari and his tactics. Ridiculous, right?

I am also scared. Hypothetically, if I am walking on a street in Nairobi and a grenade goes off in the same street, would I not get hurt? Die? Or do they put religion detectors on these things? I am not sure.

I am Muslim; 

Its not my fault that the P.Resident insists on wearing Military gear as a fashion statement and does not walk the wear if you get what i mean.....I am under the same man, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The man who would have had great success in an advertising firm. A man of selfies. A man of his word and nothing past the words. A man who is in Abu Dhabi for Formula 1 while the people he swore to protect die in the hands of lunatics.

Its not my fault that a gang of armed men and one is said to have had a rocket propeller can terrorise Kenyans in their own country, flee and the 'security agencies' appear later. That the Government continues to issue warnings to terrorists who do not warn before they kill. That I live in a country where people come in and out as they please because some man at the border was paid some amount of money.

It is not my fault that the ministry for Internal affairs or lack there of goes around spinning tales backed by his wing man, Kimaiyo. I mean, why are these two clowns in government? But do not entirely dismiss Ole Lenku, he personally signed the memo that asked all Kenyans to assemble and welcome the Commander In Chief from Hague where he is facing charges against the same Kenyans.

It is not my fault that Kenya has counties that are so marginalised that we can not hear them cry. My friends are doing internship in Garrisa and tell me the residents refer to themselves as KENYA B. Yes, because they have been forgotten by government after government. Its like the Wild Wild West only in this case, its the North.

It is not my fault that we are being led by a government that takes the easy way out for example, closing mosques in Mombasa. Bright idea huh? Wrong. How does that stop radicalisation? The difference between a Muslim youth in Mombasa and I is the environment. We read the same scripture but what makes it easier to make a youth at the Coast a blood thirsty lunatic? Yes, you have closed a mosque, have you changed the thinking of the particular youth? No. You have reinforced the brainwashing because the Victim's mentality sets in and hallo Al-Shabaab recruit.

The Media
This is my favourite, this is where when a Muslim does something horrible, the fact that they are Muslim has to be emphasised. I have asked myself why that is the case so many times. I thought maybe its because they kill in the name of the Islam but just because  they say it, doesn't make it true. It is the same shit as Ruto claiming they killed the militia, it bullshit and you know it so why believe it?

How come the same rule does not apply when every one else does something horrible? When a Muslim does something awesome, how come the same rule does not apply? e.g. Muslim man helps save people from Westgate. Ridiculous.

One more thing: If Islam really does suction the killing of 'Non-Muslims', how come I do not kill despite the fact that we read the same Book? Why am i not automatically converted into a Killing machine?

Did you know that according to the Quran, The Prophet said: "Beware! Whoever oppresses a Muahid (Non-Muslim) or snatches any of  his rights and causes him pain which he cannot bear, or takes anything from him without his permission ,I will fight such a Muslim on the day of Judgement"

Last but not least, lemme quote my own tweet (@MostlySafina)

Yes, I am Muslim

No, I don't apologise for Al-Shabaab. My being Muslim doesn't make me accountable for their actions.

Regards, L.O.P