Omens of sectarian skirmishes as Mawlid approaches

Photo by Sudan News Monitoring "A Facebook group"

In a striking development that could lead to a repeat of last year's scenarios of clashes between Sufis and the ultra-orthodox Salafis , a Salafi group tried last Friday to vandalize the tomb of Sheikh Hamed Al-Nil in Omdurman, while dozens of the Hamed Al-Nil’s followers were inside the tomb holding their usual religious ceremonies “Dhikr.

This comes at a time when the government is calling on both groups to avoid violence and conduct cultivated discussions of controversial issues. 

Yesterday’s Arabic dailies reported that Police forces have foiled an attempted attack by a Jihadist Salafi group, adding that the group clashed with the police forces using Molotov cocktails. Police, however, succeeded in preventing the mob from entering, chasing them in nearby residential blocks and arresting seventeen.

Reports said the group held a lecture in the northern end of the tomb, criticizing building of tombs and mausoleums and calling for them to be dismantled, while police stood to prevent clashes.

It is worth mentioning that similar incidents involving the two groups see a significant rise this time every year as Mawlid “Prophet Mohamed birth” celebrations draw near, with Hamed Al-Nil’s tomb being a particular site of tensions.

The group has also refused being excluded from Al-Mawlid Square for this year’s celebrations, which they oppose in principal, saying that no one can take away their right to addressing the gathering, and calling on the authorities to be evenhanded.

Many observers see the incidents as an extremely dangerous and rising phenomenon and a serious premonition; calling on relevant authorities to do more to address the problem and prevent similar potential incidents so out of character with Sudanese and Islamic behavior and principles.