The arrest of influential Sunni cleric Imam Mohamed Ishaq Kindo in Burkina Faso on the eve of Eid al-Adha has intensified concerns about escalating restrictions on freedoms under military rule. Witnesses reported that plainclothes police and masked soldiers took the cleric into custody on May 26 around 2 PM, triggering clashes with worshippers attempting to intervene. Several people were injured in the confrontation.

The timing of the arrest—just days before the religious festival—has raised questions about motives. The Federation of Islamic Associations (Faib) has called for calm and adherence to institutional processes, though officials have provided no clear explanation for the cleric’s detention.

Tensions have been simmering for months around a draft law on religious freedoms that seeks to reinforce state secularism, regulate worship spaces in public institutions, and curb certain extremist practices. Muslim organizations have strongly opposed the legislation, demanding its withdrawal. Imam Kindo had recently circulated an audio message questioning whether authorities were considering the consequences of their actions before proceeding.

In a related development, a solidarity protest in support of the detained cleric in Ouagadougou was dispersed using tear gas. This follows the disappearance of another critic, Imam Mahmoud Barro, who vanished in late March after publicly opposing the same draft law.

Student union targeted under anti-terrorism charges

The General Union of Burkinabè Students (Ugeb) has been suspended for three months—renewable—for alleged “apology of terrorism” after publishing a statement criticizing authorities’ ineffectiveness in combating insecurity and unfulfilled promises. A prosecutor in Ouagadougou has launched an investigation into the publication’s authors.

Human Rights Watch described Ugeb as “a vital voice in the struggle for transparency and social justice since its founding in 1960.” The organization highlighted that the legal proceedings against the student union reflect a concerning pattern where judicial authorities appear increasingly aligned with the political and security agenda of the military leadership. HRW has called for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Ugeb and an end to the suppression of independent voices and fundamental freedoms, warning that silencing students will not resolve Burkina Faso’s deepening security crisis driven by Islamist insurgencies.

Last month, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) urged Burkinabè authorities to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms. So far, these appeals have gone unheeded, with fear permeating society. Journalists increasingly struggle to find willing sources, as the risks of speaking out grow. Yet, dissent persists in private conversations and across social media platforms.