Home / AFRICA / Death Sentences For 29 Over Dr. Congo Eid clashes

Death Sentences For 29 Over Dr. Congo Eid clashes

People inspect a burned police car, after two groups of Muslims clashed outside Martyrs' Stadium in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo - 13 May 2021
IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionPolice vehicles were also destroyed in the clashes outside Martyrs’ Stadium

Twenty-nine people have been sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo in connection with Eid violence that erupted in the capital, Kinshasa.

One police officer was killed and dozens of others were injured in clashes between rival Muslim groups.

They had gathered to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, but fell out over who should lead the event.

The death penalty is no longer applied in DR Congo and those found guilty will serve life sentences instead.

Trial broadcast live

The police had used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of people who gathered outside the Martyrs’ Stadium in Kinshasa on Thursday for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

 

Some of the officers injured in the violence are still in a critical condition, the authorities say.

A wounded policeman, Nsonso Lenga Lambert, sits in a police vehicle that was damaged when two groups of Muslims clashed outside Martyrs' Stadium in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo - 13 May 2021.IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionOne of the officers wounded in the clashes pictured in a vehicle outside the stadium on Thursday

The clashes were fuelled by a leadership dispute between two camps within the Muslim community.

Forty-one people were arrested at the scene and were put on trial on Friday.

The court session was broadcast live on television and went on all night.

Muslim at Eid prayers at the Martyrs' Stadium in Kinshasa, DR Congo - June 201IMAGE COPYRIGHTAFP
image captionThe Eid al-Fitr prayers usually pass off peacefully – this was the scene at Martyrs’ Stadium in 2017

There were 31 convictions – 29 people were given the death sentence and two received five-year jail terms.

Given the speed with which the sentences were passed there are bound to be concerns over the fairness of the trial, says BBC World Service Africa editor Will Ross.

BBC.COM

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