An influential Sunni imam and preacher, Mohamad Ishaq Kindo, was arrested Tuesday in Ouagadougou by police and taken to an unknown destination, two days after criticizing a bill, AFP learned from his relatives and a Muslim organization.

Burkina Faso has been governed for almost four years by a junta, headed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, which is pursuing a repressive policy towards any critical voice and claims not to be a democracy.

Imam Kindo was arrested Tuesday afternoon "in circumstances whose motives have not yet been officially communicated," the Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina (FAIB) said in a statement.

She states that she has "taken the necessary steps with the relevant authorities to obtain precise information and a favorable outcome".

One of his relatives, a witness to the arrest, indicated that it took place around 2:00 PM (GMT and local time), on the eve of the important Muslim festival of Eid, and was carried out "by security elements, including police officers and hooded soldiers".

"It was violent because the faithful who were around him opposed it, which caused tension," continued this close associate.

Another relative lamented "injuries among Muslim worshippers during the arrest."

Two days ago, a recording of a teaching by Imam Kindo was widely shared on social media.

In it, he denounced the adoption in March of a bill regulating the exercise of religious freedoms in Burkina Faso and called on the authorities to "question themselves more about the scope of their actions before acting".

"Let everyone be wary and refrain from wanting to ban prayers in public places. Whether you are a leader or a strongman, you have neither the strength nor the power of God," he declared, among other things.

A few hours after his arrest, hundreds of people demonstrated in Ouagadougou, demanding his release, according to residents.

The demonstration was dispersed with tear gas, according to a protester contacted by AFP.

The FAIB called on "all Muslim faithful to remain calm, restrained and serene".

Since Ibrahim Traoré came to power, several notable disappearances of voices critical of the regime have been reported.

Burkina Faso justifies its repressive policy in particular by the war it has been waging for more than a decade against jihadist groups present in a large part of the country.

AFP