An Iman from the city of Bobo-Dioulasso was placed under a warrant on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at the MACB. He is being prosecuted by the prosecution of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Bobo-Dioulasso for acts of violence and threats under conditions.
It all started with a land deal located in sector 29, Belle-ville, opposite the Higher Institute of Professional Studies (ISFP). It is actually a green space that is assigned to a religious community. As proof, she has all the documents that give her a title deed. However, the Imam’s camp still claims ownership of the land. They wanted to carry out construction work on the site. As a result, a land dispute on the ground opposes the two camps. Soon the case went to court.
Following a court decision, the land was awarded to the Catholic community on the basis of the valid documents it holds. After said decision, the Imam’s camp continues to claim ownership of the land. Worse, the imam uttered threats and violence against the community on condition of giving up the land. These threats are contained in an audio-visual recording in which he states this “If one of us is locked up because of this land affair, we are going to attack and break up all the Catholic churches that are in the Belle-ville district”.
For the prosecution, there is no problem between the two communities, but such statements made by the Imam constitute offenses against the criminal law and can harm peace and social cohesion. In view of the situation, the prosecution arrested the imam in question and then placed him in pre-trial detention. For the moment the imam is staying at the MACB while waiting for the day of judgment. Clearly, the prosecution accuses him of the facts of threats under conditions of incitement to hatred and violence provided for by the Burkinabè penal code. (Case to follow).
Ben Alassane DAO
