MOGADISHU (Sunatimes)-Somalia’s hardline Alshabaab group have described top Somali religious leaders as "apostates" as parts of recurrent maltreatment by the group to make above-board the killing of sacred Somali religious leaders.

A senior Alshabaab official called Sheikh Burhan who addressed on the group’s radio (Al-Furqan) has declared what he called "infidel clerics" by naming very respected religious leaders taught Somalis to Islam, he said are ‘’apostates’’.

He also charged the biggest religious umbrella of the country as ‘’Christians mouthpiece’’.

"They are apostates, they are against our Jihad " Burhan passionately said Tuesday the words amazed by the Muslim Somalis who oppose the strict copied version of the extremists.

The Sheikhs include, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad, the chairman of Somalia’s religious leaders’ umbrella and Sheikh Ahmed Dahir Aweys who is the brother of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, Hizbul Islam leader who they accused of being opponent to their strict out of law acts they commit.

Alshabaab is known to portray anyone not in favour of their politics as ‘’opostates’’ a way to make their blood shed legal.

Alshabaab militants have increasingly resorted to executing those they accuse of spying for Somali government in the last two years alongside more suicide and roadside bombs, tactics copied from Iraq that officials say are aimed at instilling fear.

The horn of Africa nation has been without central government since1991 after clan militias and warlords overthrown the dictator regime of Siad Barre that lastly leashed out to constant violence for more than 20 years.

Copyright: Sunatimes

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