An arrest that has sparked outrage in Burkina Faso. Influential Sunni imam and preacher Mohamed Ishaq Kindo was detained Tuesday, May 26, in Ouagadougou by police officers and taken to an undisclosed location. The arrest occurred just two days after he publicly criticized the religious freedoms bill adopted on March 19, according to associates and a Muslim organization he is affiliated with.

Why was Imam Kindo arrested?

The Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina (FAIB) released a statement hours after the incident. It confirmed that Imam Kindo, who also serves as president of the country’s Sunni Ulemas, was arrested Tuesday afternoon “under circumstances whose motives have not yet been officially disclosed.”

The FAIB stated it had “initiated necessary steps with the competent authorities to obtain precise information and a favorable outcome.”

A violent arrest amid Eid celebrations

A close associate who witnessed the arrest reported it occurred around 2:00 PM local time, the day before the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The operation was carried out by security forces, including police and masked military personnel.

“It was violent,” the associate said. “Fellow worshippers who were nearby resisted, escalating tensions.” Another associate reported “injuries among Muslim worshippers during the arrest.”

Two days prior, an audio recording of Imam Kindo’s sermon was widely shared on social media. In it, he condemned the adoption of the religious freedoms bill in Burkina Faso and urged authorities to “reconsider their actions before proceeding further.”

Public outrage and protests

Hours after the arrest, hundreds gathered in Ouagadougou demanding the imam’s release, according to local residents. The protest was dispersed using tear gas, a witness reported.

The FAIB called on the Muslim community to remain calm and composed.

No official statement yet

The day after the arrest, coinciding with Eid al-Adha, calm returned to the community as people closely followed the case. After performing the Eid prayer, Burkina Faso’s president addressed the nation on social media.

While praising security forces battling jihadist groups, the Head of State warned enemies of the nation against any attempts to undermine morale or disrupt national stability. “Anyone who takes such a stance will bear full responsibility for all consequences,” he declared. As of now, there has been no official comment regarding Imam Kindo’s detention.

Understanding the controversial religious freedoms bill

The religious freedoms bill, adopted by the Council of Ministers on March 19, seeks to regulate religious practices to curb online extremism, hate speech, and violent radicalization. Authorities claim the law is an update to address growing threats.

Mariem Sanogo, Director General of Religious, Customary, and Traditional Affairs, emphasized that the law does not ban public prayers but prohibits the construction of places of worship in public administration buildings—except in health facilities, prisons, barracks, and military camps.

With limited space to accommodate all faiths in public offices, the government chose a blanket prohibition. Authorities stress that public prayer remains permitted, provided it respects the beliefs of others.

Since the military takeover led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré nearly four years ago, several critical voices have gone missing. Authorities justify repression as necessary to combat over a decade of jihadist insurgency that has gripped much of the country.