An imam from Bobo-Dioulasso, Mahmoud Barro, was detained in mid-April under similar circumstances. Days earlier, on March 31, cyber-activist Mahamadi Baguian—a government ally—died in police custody in Ouagadougou.

All three cases—including that of Imam Mohamed Kindo, arrested Tuesday afternoon—revolve around a controversial government bill. The proposed law seeks to regulate religious freedoms, banning worship in public institutions like hospitals, military barracks, and government offices.

The draft legislation, approved by the Council of Ministers on March 19, has ignited outrage, particularly among Sunni Muslims, with influential Imam Kindo as a vocal opponent. His criticism triggered a heated arrest on the eve of Eid al-Adha, followed by mass protests in the capital. Clashes with security forces erupted in the city center, marked by tear gas and aggressive crowd dispersal.