05 in focus v2

IN FOCUS

Islam is Banned in Angola Under Law Speaking about banning of Islam, the Angolan President, Jose Edurado dos Santos was quoted by several news agencies and Angolan Newspapers as saying: "This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country."

By Khursheed Alam Dawood Qasmi - The author is a Darul Uloom Deoband alumnus and presently a teacher at Moon Rays Trust School, Zambia, Southern Africa.

W

hen the entire world is crying to protect and respect human rights and the freedom of religion on the global level, at the same time, it's ironic to hear that the Angolan Ministry of Justice and Human Rights couldn't favour the Muslims legalizing Islam as a religion in the country. The government of Republic of Angola announced the banning of Islam and Islamic activities in the country recently.

The Republic of Angola, a Christian dominated country is situated in the Southern-Central Africa, with a population of 17 million people, bordering Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north. Luanda is the capital city. Kikongo is one among six

14

EASTERN CRESCENT JANUARY 2014

recognised national languages; whereas Portuguese is the official language which is commonly written, spoken and understood in the whole country.

From 16th century till October 1975, it was a Portuguese territory known as the Overseas Province of Angola.

With sacrifices and efforts made by the Angolan people, it achieved its independence on 11th November, 1975. After independence, civil war broke out and Angola remained the scene of an intense fratricidal fighting for around 26 years, until it came to an end on 4th April, 2002, following peace and agreement between civilians and the government.

While on the one hand the news about banning Islam in Angola has spread like jungle fire within few days

in the entire world, there is also news that it is not true. Now the common Muslims are confused in this regard.

It's shameful that a Muslim leader of an African or Arab country doesn't want to break his silence on such serious issue while the common Muslims want to hear voices raised against this move.

A verification being circulated on social networking site, Facebook, without any reliable source, is as follows: "Upon verification from Angloan scholars it was found that the story of Islam being banned in Angola is completely fabricated. Sadly, the demolition of all structures that were built without proper documentation, planning, procedure etc. was carried out. This happened to include some religious structures

IN FOCUS too, amongst them a masjid.

Interestingly, the picture doing its rounds is not even from Angola but the Middle East. This happened quite some time back but is being carried mischievously by some media houses. It is important that Muslims should only build masjids after proper approvals to avoid this. It has happened in other countries before.

Please clarify the truth with those who have become emotional about the so-called banning of Islam in Angola. May Allah Almighty grant us a lesson and safeguard the Deen.

Aameen!"

Speaking about banning of Islam, the Angolan President, Jose Edurado dos Santos was quoted by several news agencies and Angolan Newspapers as saying: "This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country."

The Angolan Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva said, "The process of legalisation of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and their mosques would be closed until further notice," Silva's statement was made during her appearance at the 6th Commission of the National Assembly.

Silva further said, "All sects on the list published by the ministry of Justice and Human Rights in the Angolan newspaper, ‘Journal De Angola’ are prohibited to conduct worship. So, they should keep their doors closed," as quoted by Cameroon Voice.

It is reported that as part of the ban, the Angolan government has ordered the demolition of the mosques, Qur'anic Schools and Islamic Centers.

In early October 2013, the minaret of a mosque, in the municipality of Viana Zango of the capital city Luanda, was dismantled into pieces on the ground without any prior information in agreement with the decision of the Angolan authorities.

It took place after the announcement

15

EASTERN CRESCENT JANUARY 2014

made by the governor on 3rd October, 2013 in the morning in a radio spot that radical Muslims are not welcome in Angola and the Angola government is not ready for legalisation of mosques in Angola.

On 28th November, 2013, The Guardian has quoted David Ja, president of Islamic Community of Angola as saying: "We can say that Islam has been banned in Angola.

You need 100,000 to be recognised as a religion or officially you can't pray."

"The mosques in Luanda were supposed to be closed on a particular day but because of an international furore about reports that Angola has banned Islam, the government decided not to do so. So, at the moment, mosques in Luanda are open and people are going for prayer," Mr. Ja added.

As to me the report published in the Guardian is more authentic and reliable, because under Angolan law, a religious group needs more than 100,000 members and to be present in 12 of the 18 provinces to gain legal status, giving them the right to construct schools and places of worship. There are only about 90-80 thousand Muslims among Angola's population. So, it is impossible for Islam to be recongnised in Angola. In other words, Islam is banned in Angola under the present law and the freedom of religion is being snatched from the people, I think.

We observe that when some unwanted actions occur at any place, the leaders of the so-called civilised countries start condemning in the strongest terms within a moment; but when those are against Islam and Muslims, they keep mum as they are dumb, deaf and blind. To my utter

surprise, the heads of the Muslim countries show their courage and cruelty against their own people, even if they want to protest for a right purpose, and when something goes wrong against Islam and Muslims, they never dare to speak against anti-Islamic elements for the sake of Islam and Muslims; rather they become cowards and chicken out.

Now banning Islam in Angola is a global issue and the Muslims are disturbed and pained; but not yet even a single responsible Muslim leader has addressed this issue.

According to the International Religious Freedom Report 2008 ( p u b l i s h e d o n www.memeorandum.com), "Islam is a minority religion in Angola with 80,000-90,000 adherents, composed largely of migrants from West Africa and the families of Lebanese origin.

The Muslims comprised between 2.5 to 3 percent of Angola's overall population of 17 million people, most of them Christians."

During the last few years, the Muslim community in Angola has grown appreciably and Islamic activities have become more common in major cities. Mosques have sprung up in a number of places and the Qur'anic schools have been built to provide Islamic instruction and teach Arabic language to the followers of Islam.

In brief, it is rightly said that the Republic of Angola has become the first country in the world to ban a peaceful religion such as Islam. Now about 80,000-90,000 Muslims of Angola are criminal by law, whereas the constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, but only for 45% pagans and 53% Christians, not for a small minority of Muslims. Is it democracy or tyranny? At least I failed to understand the democracy of this so-called civilised world. May Allah protect Islam and Muslims all over the world! Aameen!