Nyasa Times Reporter | 25 September 2012

Representatives of the Muslim Association of (Malawi MAM) says they have no plans hold demonstrations protesting against the US anti-Islam Film which depicts the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a womanizer and a warmonger.

MAM’s General Secretary Sheik Dr Salmin Omar Idruss was reacting to reports that some Muslims are planning to match to the American Embassy in the capital Lilongwe to present their petition.

“After all we never watched the film, so on what basis can we hold the demonstrations?”

However this is contrary to recent remarks made by Director of Muslim Society for Human Rights and Justice (MSHRJ) Sheikh Aman Matiya who said Muslims are ready to defend and die for their religion.

The Malawi Muslims Official Website is quoting MAM’s National Chairman Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad as saying Matiya’s views are personal and don’t represent those of the Muslim community in Malawi.

“The Muslim Society for Human Rights and Justice is not an affiliate of MAM otherwise it could have consulted us first before going to the media. We therefore distance ourselves from the remarks made (by Matiya) and that we are not responsible for any inconveniences this may cause,” Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad told the online publication.

Meanwhile Matiya has retracted his stand claiming that it was the reporter who misquoted him.

Edited version of the original article that appeared here.