Huff Post: There was a rumor that recently made rounds on the Internet about the State of Angola banning the religion of Islam, demoting it to the status of a “cult” and making plans to demolish mosques across the country. This later proved to be a hoax. CAIR USA was one of the Muslim groups that circulated this news widely on social media – especially on their Facebook page.
My friend and executive director of CAIR-Chicago, Ahmed Rehab, wrote, “Angola has banned Islam and demolished its existing mosques. This is an unprecedented act of religious persecution in modern times. How can you outlaw matters of the heart? What right does a state or government have over a citizen’s relationship with God, making it illegal? I am still waiting for a statement from the State department and US sanctions due to wanton persecution of religious minorities. Simply grotesque Angola.”
I have great admiration for the work that CAIR does in combatting Islamophobia in the United States. I completely agree with my friend’s response – albeit early – to the Angola hoax. If confirmed, I would have reacted similarly. Discrimination of any sort needs to be called out and condemned. What can be more fascist than denying a religious minority the freedom to identity and practice and to desecrate their places of worship? I totally agree that religion is a “matter of the heart” and cannot be outlawed. I echo Ahmed’s sentiments on State interference in the religious matters of its citizens. I also agree that the Unites States should take note of such grotesque behavior and respond with sanctions to discourage such barbarity in this day and age.
No mention of what has been going on in Pakistan since 1974???? or is that supposed to be acceptable since it is an “internal” matter??
What is with the double standard?? Shameful, I must say.