South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit said Thursday that mosque properties in Juba that have been grabbed will be given back to the nation’s Muslim community.
Speaking at Freedom hall last night at an event to break the Ramadan fast, President Kiir said that Muslim lands at Sukur Juba, Sukur 6, and Samba football grounds will be returned.
He said that the people grabbing land of Muslims were also grabbing land used by Christian churches, and instructed the Minister of Education to work with the Muslim council to ensure Islamic schools are rebuilt so children can learn the Koran.
Kiir also donated 200,000 US dollars for South Sudanese Muslims to visit Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform their sacred pilgrimage. It was not clear if this money comes from Kiir personally or the government of South Sudan.
The president warned Muslims against bringing Islamic fundamentalism to South Sudan saying the government will have no mercy for religious radicals. He urged the Muslim community to continue coexisting peacefully with Christians in South Sudan.
South Sudan’s vice president James Wani Igga also attended the break the fast event.
Photo: President Salva Kiir Mayardit, dressed in Muslim garb, breaks the fast with Juba’s Islamic community 24 July 2014. Credit: Radio Tamazuj
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