ATPU seeks to hold Lawyer Furqan Chacha for 20 more days
His lawyer, Mbugua Mureithi, dismissed the allegations as baseless, insisting that his client was being harassed for performing his professional duties.
Nairobi lawyer Furqan Chacha Mwita was on Monday, November 17, arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts in Nairobi, where he was charged in connection with alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
Appearing before Magistrate Gideon Kiage, the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) requested 20 additional days to continue holding the lawyer as investigations proceed. The police claim that Furqan is involved in terrorism and the financing of terrorist operations.
The prosecution, through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, also sought the court’s permission to conduct a forensic examination of the lawyer’s mobile phone.
In court, prosecutors alleged that Furqan—who is known for representing clients accused of terrorism-related offences—has been working with groups affiliated with ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
His lawyer, Mbugua Mureithi, dismissed the allegations as baseless, insisting that his client was being harassed for performing his professional duties. Mbugua strongly opposed Furqan’s continued detention and urged the court to release him on bail.
The magistrate is expected to deliver a ruling on the police application for extended detention on Wednesday.
Furqan was arrested in Mombasa last Friday alongside eight other suspects in connection with what police described as a network linked to ISIS.
The arrest sparked accusations of witch-hunt from Muslim leaders and human rights activists, who argued that the lawyer was being intimidated because of his work representing individuals accused of terrorism.
Commenting on his detention, National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF) chairman Abdullahi Abdi said the allegations appeared to be an attempt to frustrate Furqan for defending clients linked to terrorism cases. “According to the law, everyone has a right to legal representation, and defending them falls within his mandate as a lawyer,” he said.
“Furqan is a well-known lawyer who respects the law, and it is ludicrous to claim he is involved in criminal activities. His only crime is providing legal services to defenceless and vulnerable people,” he added