By Times Reporter
THE Islamic Council of Zambia (ICZ) has extended an olive branch to those who damaged its Mosque in Kitwe’s Bulangililo township following the riots that erupted in the area after Zambia lost 0-1 to Senegal in a joint World and Africa Cup qualifier match a week ago.

The Council has also said it would not demand any compensation for the damage it suffered as a result of the riot in the area.

ICZ president Rashid Phiri was speaking at the weekend during a reconciliatory meeting between the Moslem community and other residents at Bulangililo’s Lulamba basic school.

Mr Phiri said the Muslims had decided to forgive the perpetrators of the riot because they were ignorant of what they were doing.

“We, as Muslims strongly believe that the perpetrators do not know what they hate and indeed what they did, for we believe had they known what they hate, they would have been crying for what they did to the religion of peace,” Mr Phiri said.

Mr Phiri requested Government to carefully and kindly screen those in custody and indeed release those who were innocent.

He however said the law should take its course on those found guilty, as they were both dangerous not only to the Muslims, but the community at large.

Speaking later, Kwacha Member of Parliament (MP) Eugene Appel appealed to the Moslems not to perceive the riot as an attack on the religion, saying the riots had nothing to do with Islam because every person in Zambia had a right to belong to any religion.

Mr Appel said it was sad that out of emotion, people attacked the Mosque.

He however, said he was happy that the Moslems had accepted to reconcile with non-Moslems despite losing much property in the riot.

Mr Appel who is deputy Commerce minister cautioned the people in the area to continue maintaining the peace that the country was associated with.

Source : http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=6&id=1126552916m