The Muslim Times’ Editor’s comment: It seems, the Government of Angola has denied these claims, which some one started on internet. We encourage readers to independently investigate this issue.
By Connor Adams Sheets
on November 24 2013 6:35 PM
A number of news outlets have reported that Angola has “banned” Islam and started to dismantle mosques in a bold effort to stem the spread of Muslim extremism.
Weekly French-language Moroccan newspaper La Nouvelle Tribune published an article on Friday sourcing “several” Angolan officials, including the Southwest African nation’s minister of culture, Rosa Cruz, who reportedly offered the following remarks, which have been translated from French: “The process of legalization of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, their mosques would be closed until further notice.”
The media reports have not described why exactly Islam apparently faces a need to be legalized despite its presence in the country for many years.
OnIslam.net reports that the African economic news agency Agence Ecofin wrote that Cruz made the statement at an appearance last week before the 6th Commission of the National Assembly. The website goes on to note that, “According to several Angolan newspapers, Angola has become the first country in the world to ban Islam and Muslims, taking first measures by destroying mosques in the country.”
Categories: Africa
May we hope that this ‘News’ is wrong? In any case, what Angola (and the world) needs is a Community whose motto is ‘Love for All and Hatred for None’!
Well, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is in Angola:
Associacao Ahmadiyya Do
Address: Caixa Postale 5032
Islao Angol,
Republica Popular De Angola
It would be nice if they could let us know how they are doing.
I checked the source quoted, “La Nouvelle Tribune” (which, by the way, is published from Benin and NOT Morocco), and the report seems to be a bit confusing:
1. The Governor of Luanda is quoted as stating that “radical Islam” was not welcome in the country, and that “their” mosques would be destroyed. The statement is clearly targetting only “radical Islam” and, by inference, leaves “peaceful” Muslims free to practice their faith.
2. At the same time, however, other Angolan leaders are reported to have apparently made more sweeping remarks, to the effect that Islam as such was not welcome in the country and that existing mosques would be destroyed.
3. Perhaps we should seek clarifications from Angolan diplomatic representatives in Western countries before hazarding further comments on the issue.
3. At the same time, and in all fairness to any government confronted with violent extremists, whether “Islamic” or otherwise, they would be completely justified in opposing any such ideology, organization or individual, that preaches and/or practices violence.
4. In fact, the Holy Qur’an itself would fully support such a firm stance against those who spread disorder in the land.
5. It is a strange coincidence that, just a couple of days ago, on Saturday 23 November 2013, the World Leader of the Islam-Ahmadiyya Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, speaking at an event in London, UK, organised to commemorate the Independence Anniversary of several African nations, raised the alarm against the spread of “islamic terrorism” in Africa and called for vigilance on the part of African leaders.
6. As Rafiq Tschannen has hinted at, the Islam-Ahmadiyya Community has built for itself a reputation at the other end of the spectrum in Africa, inter alia by practising its motto of ‘Love for All and Hatred for None’ by building dozens of schools and hospitals in many of the poorest regions, starting from the 1930s and down the decades till today.
7. There is now growing public recognition on the part of political leaders in various parts of the world — for example, Members of the European Union, Members of the US Congress and Senate, Members of Parliament in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, Members of Parliament in Sierra Leone and Ghana — that the message of justice and peace preached and practised by the Islam-Ahmadiyya Community, constitutes the panacea for the ills of our dysfunctional world.
Let the truth speak. Islam is free religion does it teach terrorism NO but whatever the statement is banning islam it looks like adding fuel into fire. How many people hv done research and found true islam Ahmadiyya few.
Now it’s the time all ahmadies wherever their to preach and let people know about islam Ahmadiyya.
Not just sit home we are responsible if people don’t know what islam is.
see a denial of these reports here:
http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/11/africa/angola-denies-it-banned-islam-destroyed-mosques
(although I do not like the source, ‘Jehad Watch’)
Dear friends
Thanks for the information and reacting from the Ahmadiyya point of view.
I know that Ahmadiyya communities are in many African countries and are involved in various educational and teaching projects.
What worries me most is that by saying that only Ahmadiyya Islam is the peaceful ones and rest are radical, you are not helping the cause of true Islam, which is peaceful, loving and adoptive.
Unfortunately,by saying that Ahmadiyya are different than other Muslims will only put oil on the fire because most people do not distinguish one Muslim sect from another. They just hear the word Islam and connect it with violence. This is the way, media and politicians are reacting.
Ahmadiyya organisations and Imams have a moral duty to defend Islam and 1.7 billion Muslims because it is part of this universal religion.
Please do not take this appeal more than what it is – an Appeal.
Dear Bashy, Thank you very much for your good advice. It is indeed a difficult task. In any case, it is not only the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, but the other 99% of Muslims also, who are distancing themselves from the militants.
in my country angola will not allow this to happen muslims they can do whatever they want to do but they must not build moscow in my country not even community we don’t want war in our country we want peace that is what God wants us to be to love one another