Church Set on Fire as Militant Islam Increases

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous island off the coast of Tanzania which is almost exclusively Muslim, with only a small number of Hindus and Christians. Throughout its history as a trading center, the island has been generally accepting of the religious minorities. However, jihad recruiters and Wahhabi missionaries, often funded by militant groups in Saudi Arabia, have begun to cause difficulties for Christians living on the island.

According to a March 26 report from the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission, many Zanzibari Muslim leaders have expressed concerns about the rising militancy being seen.

The government has banned demonstrations by the Islamist group "Jumuia ya Uamsho na Mihadhara" (Revival and Propagation Organization), commonly referred to as Uamsho, since the group has been distributing jihad-training videos and literature as well as advocating death to politicians who refuse to implement Sharia law.

There are concerns that this group may be responsible for bombings and other attacks against westerners, moderate Islamic leaders, as well as two attacks on a Catholic Church. On March 10, the church was set on fire, using cloth sacks soaked in gasoline. A police official, Hamad Issa, described the attack as "a deliberate act aimed at inciting religious hostilities ... an act of religious intolerance." A week later, on March 17, a gasoline bomb destroyed a school bus belonging to the church while parked on the church grounds. Five senior members of Uamsho have been detained as suspects.

Pray that religious intolerance and militant Islam will not gain a major following in Zanzibar. Pray that authorities in the area will take decisive action on those responsible. Pray that Christians will be a demonstration of the love and grace of God to those around them.