In mid-April, Imam Mahmoud Barro of Bobo-Dioulasso faced a similar arrest under contentious circumstances. Earlier, on March 31, cyber-activist Mahamadi Baguian—despite being a government supporter—died following his detention by Ouagadougou police.

The arrests of Imam Mohamed Kindo around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, along with two prior cases, tie directly to a proposed law that has ignited fierce debate. The legislation aims to regulate religious practices in Burkina Faso, explicitly banning worship activities in public spaces such as government offices, hospitals, and military barracks.

The bill, approved by the Council of Ministers on March 19, has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Sunni Muslim communities, with influential Imam Kindo leading the opposition. His vocal condemnation of the law led to his arrest on the eve of Tabaski, triggering protests by hundreds of followers in the capital. Confrontations with security forces escalated, marked by tear gas deployments and aggressive crowd dispersal tactics in central Ouagadougou.