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Arrested just days before Eid al-Adha, influential Sunni imam Mohamad Ishaq Kindo has become the latest religious figure to face state action in Burkina Faso. The prominent cleric was taken into custody on May 26 in Ouagadougou by masked security personnel—police and military—after delivering sharp criticism of the new religious freedoms law adopted on March 19.

According to a statement released by the Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina Faso (FAIB), Kindo, who also serves as president of the country’s Sunni Oulema Association, was detained in the afternoon without official clarification of the reasons behind his arrest. The FAIB immediately announced it had initiated formal inquiries with authorities to secure precise information and a favorable resolution.

The circumstances of the arrest were tense. A close associate who witnessed the operation reported it occurred around 2:00 PM local time, with security forces—including masked officers—confronting resistance from worshippers gathered nearby. “The intervention was forceful; several Muslim faithful were injured during the operation,” one witness stated. Another associate confirmed the presence of wounded individuals among the worshippers.

Two days prior to his arrest, a widely circulated recording of Kindo’s sermon went viral on social media. In it, he condemned the newly adopted law regulating religious freedoms in Burkina Faso and warned authorities to “reconsider the implications of their actions before proceeding further.” Among other remarks, he cautioned, “Beware of attempting to ban public prayers. Whether you are a leader or a powerful figure, you do not possess the strength or authority of God.”

Community protests erupt in Ouagadougou

The arrest has ignited anger across the Muslim community. Within hours, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Ouagadougou, demanding Kindo’s immediate release. Authorities responded by dispersing the crowd with tear gas. In a public appeal, the FAIB urged calm and restraint among believers, calling for peaceful resolution.

The following day, coinciding with Eid al-Adha (Tabaski), calm appeared to return, though the religious leader’s case continues to draw close attention. Hours after leading Eid prayers, the Burkinabe president addressed the nation on social media. While honoring security forces battling jihadist insurgencies, he sternly warned against any attempts to undermine national stability or demoralize the military. “Those who choose this path will bear full responsibility for all consequences,” he declared. To date, no official statement has been issued regarding Kindo’s detention.

New religious freedoms law at the heart of the controversy

The controversial legislation, passed by the Council of Ministers on March 19, aims to regulate religious practices in Burkina Faso to curb online radicalization and hate speech. As Mariem Sanogo, Director General of Religious, Customary, and Traditional Affairs, explained, the updated law responds to growing concerns over violent extremism and inflammatory online rhetoric.

The law notably prohibits the construction of religious buildings within public service facilities—excluding health centers, prisons, and military barracks—citing the state’s inability to accommodate all denominations equally. Public prayer, however, remains permitted in open spaces, provided it respects others’ beliefs.

The arrest of Mohamad Ishaq Kindo follows a pattern of increasing state pressure on dissenting voices since the military seized power under Captain Ibrahim Traoré nearly four years ago. Authorities justify such measures as essential to combating over a decade of jihadist violence that has engulfed large parts of the country.