TANZANIA: Muslim mob Justice burns Churches
What started as a mere argument mid this week between the two
children yesterday turned violent when hundreds of Muslim believers stormed the
Mbagala district police station in protest against an act whereby a 14-year-old
Christian boy allegedly urinated over the Holy Quran.
children yesterday turned violent when hundreds of Muslim believers stormed the
Mbagala district police station in protest against an act whereby a 14-year-old
Christian boy allegedly urinated over the Holy Quran.
The violence subsequently spread beyond the police station when
angry Muslims went on the rampage and destroyed four churches around Mbagala to
avenge what the Christian boy had done against the Quran. During their invasion
of the Mbagala police station, the demonstrators demanded that the Christian
boy be handed over so that he could be beheaded for abusing the holy book. The
crack anti-riot police popularly known as Field Force unit were immediately
deployed to tame the skirmishes, where scores were injured and others arrested
during a five-hour scuffle between the police and Muslim demonstrators.
angry Muslims went on the rampage and destroyed four churches around Mbagala to
avenge what the Christian boy had done against the Quran. During their invasion
of the Mbagala police station, the demonstrators demanded that the Christian
boy be handed over so that he could be beheaded for abusing the holy book. The
crack anti-riot police popularly known as Field Force unit were immediately
deployed to tame the skirmishes, where scores were injured and others arrested
during a five-hour scuffle between the police and Muslim demonstrators.
Motorists in Mbagala weren’t spared either –as the rowdy demonstrators smashed and stoned
their cars during the religious skirmishes. Mbagala was literally under siege,
this time not from the unguided missiles, but from the angry Muslims who felt
offended following the alleged incident of a boy urinating over the Quran on
Wednesday, this week. According to eyewitnesses, police fired dozens of teargas
canisters to disperse the unruly demonstrators. No deaths were reported.
their cars during the religious skirmishes. Mbagala was literally under siege,
this time not from the unguided missiles, but from the angry Muslims who felt
offended following the alleged incident of a boy urinating over the Quran on
Wednesday, this week. According to eyewitnesses, police fired dozens of teargas
canisters to disperse the unruly demonstrators. No deaths were reported.
Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander Commissioner
Suleiman Kova spoke over the incident yesterday, saying the matter was
triggered by what could be described as a childish joke played between two
children, one aged 12 years and the other aged 14. Narrating the incident,
Commissioner Kova said on October 10 this year (Wednesday), a Muslim child aged
12 went to an Islamic School (Madrassat) for religious instruction at Mbagala
Chamazi area, after which he returned to a playing field where he used to play
with other children. Upon returning to the playing field, he met a friend (name
withheld on ethical grounds) with whom he engaged in playful jokes, but soon
degenerated into an argument over the spiritual powers of the Quaran which the first boy still held in his hand. In
the ensuing verbal exchange, the Muslim child is said to have told his
colleague that something bad could befall him if he did anything to defile the
Holy Quran.
Suleiman Kova spoke over the incident yesterday, saying the matter was
triggered by what could be described as a childish joke played between two
children, one aged 12 years and the other aged 14. Narrating the incident,
Commissioner Kova said on October 10 this year (Wednesday), a Muslim child aged
12 went to an Islamic School (Madrassat) for religious instruction at Mbagala
Chamazi area, after which he returned to a playing field where he used to play
with other children. Upon returning to the playing field, he met a friend (name
withheld on ethical grounds) with whom he engaged in playful jokes, but soon
degenerated into an argument over the spiritual powers of the Quaran which the first boy still held in his hand. In
the ensuing verbal exchange, the Muslim child is said to have told his
colleague that something bad could befall him if he did anything to defile the
Holy Quran.
His friend, a Christian, responded by telling his Muslim
colleague that he would urinate over the holy book to see if what he told him
would really happen upon which the
Muslim boy warned his friend that he would surely turn into a rat or snake if
he indeed did so. It was at this stage of jokes between child and child that
prompted the Christian child to urinate over Holy Quran. Immediately after, the
Muslim colleague rushed home to inform his father about what had happened. The
father of the Muslim child later resolved the matter amicably with the parents
of the Christian child.
colleague that he would urinate over the holy book to see if what he told him
would really happen upon which the
Muslim boy warned his friend that he would surely turn into a rat or snake if
he indeed did so. It was at this stage of jokes between child and child that
prompted the Christian child to urinate over Holy Quran. Immediately after, the
Muslim colleague rushed home to inform his father about what had happened. The
father of the Muslim child later resolved the matter amicably with the parents
of the Christian child.
However, as news over the incident spread around the Chamazi
locality the father of the Muslim decided to report the matter to the Chamazi
police post before transferring the case to Mbagala District Police Office
where the Christian child was also detained for questioning as well as for his
safety. Things turned awry yesterday during the morning after groups of people
believed to be Muslims thronged the Mbagala District Police Office in pursuit
of the Christian child.
locality the father of the Muslim decided to report the matter to the Chamazi
police post before transferring the case to Mbagala District Police Office
where the Christian child was also detained for questioning as well as for his
safety. Things turned awry yesterday during the morning after groups of people
believed to be Muslims thronged the Mbagala District Police Office in pursuit
of the Christian child.
According to Kova, despite efforts by police to use diplomatic
means to beg the enraged people to leave the area more groups of people arrived
at the scene, asking police to hand over the child to them, a move that
prompted police to use force to disperse them. The furious people went on a
looting rampage, including breaking car windscreens, even as others ran into
the nearby church buildings where they vandalized the buildings, including
taking away church property such as music equipment.
means to beg the enraged people to leave the area more groups of people arrived
at the scene, asking police to hand over the child to them, a move that
prompted police to use force to disperse them. The furious people went on a
looting rampage, including breaking car windscreens, even as others ran into
the nearby church buildings where they vandalized the buildings, including
taking away church property such as music equipment.
Dar es Salaam regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadick yesterday
urged Dar es Slaam residents, Christians and Muslims alike, to maintain the
peace and tranquility, arguing that the act that triggered chaos involved
children — who virtually knew nothing about the repercussion of their deeds. This
incident was unprecedented and to be frank there is no need for it to be a
source of animosity between Christians and Muslims living in Dar es Salaam or the rest of the country, he said.
urged Dar es Slaam residents, Christians and Muslims alike, to maintain the
peace and tranquility, arguing that the act that triggered chaos involved
children — who virtually knew nothing about the repercussion of their deeds. This
incident was unprecedented and to be frank there is no need for it to be a
source of animosity between Christians and Muslims living in Dar es Salaam or the rest of the country, he said.
The regional commissioner also warned against individuals with
hidden interests to stop using the incident as a warrant to breach the peace.
Though the regional commissioner did not explicitly mention any individuals who
may capitalize on the incident, he was probably targeting some groups of Muslim
fundamentalists who, in recent days, have been calling for the resignation of
Tanzania Muslim Council Head Mufti Sheikh Issan Shabban Bin Simba. He called on
religious leaders to ask their followers to maintain calm while police were
handling the matter in proper legal procedures. He hailed police for the smooth
handling of the matter.
hidden interests to stop using the incident as a warrant to breach the peace.
Though the regional commissioner did not explicitly mention any individuals who
may capitalize on the incident, he was probably targeting some groups of Muslim
fundamentalists who, in recent days, have been calling for the resignation of
Tanzania Muslim Council Head Mufti Sheikh Issan Shabban Bin Simba. He called on
religious leaders to ask their followers to maintain calm while police were
handling the matter in proper legal procedures. He hailed police for the smooth
handling of the matter.
Dar es Salaam regional Sheikh Alhad Musa Salum also pleaded for
calm, saying the matter was being handled by relevant authorities. He also said
there was no reason for Christians and Muslims to sow seeds of hatred over the
matter triggered by children. Sheikh Salum said it was illogical for
Christianity as a religion to be condemned for an act or offense committed by a
single Christian person and versa versa. The Legal and Human Rights Centre
(LHRC) expressed concern over the chaos, saying there was need to preach
tolerance among Tanzanians because it is only through tolerance and respect
that peace and harmony would be maintained.
calm, saying the matter was being handled by relevant authorities. He also said
there was no reason for Christians and Muslims to sow seeds of hatred over the
matter triggered by children. Sheikh Salum said it was illogical for
Christianity as a religion to be condemned for an act or offense committed by a
single Christian person and versa versa. The Legal and Human Rights Centre
(LHRC) expressed concern over the chaos, saying there was need to preach
tolerance among Tanzanians because it is only through tolerance and respect
that peace and harmony would be maintained.
The centres Head of Human rights monitoring unit Leaticia Petro
who was at the scene said that Article 26 of the constitution requires every
citizen regardless of creed to obey and respect the laws and the constitution.
She said that since the police had arrested the child, there was no need for
demonstrations; rather, the matter should have been left in the hands of the
police for further legal measures. Chaos reigned at the scene as police fired
teargas canisters at the demonstrators who wanted to storm the police post,
prompting people to run for cover — randomly.
who was at the scene said that Article 26 of the constitution requires every
citizen regardless of creed to obey and respect the laws and the constitution.
She said that since the police had arrested the child, there was no need for
demonstrations; rather, the matter should have been left in the hands of the
police for further legal measures. Chaos reigned at the scene as police fired
teargas canisters at the demonstrators who wanted to storm the police post,
prompting people to run for cover — randomly.
However, commuter bus passengers to and from Mbagala via Kilwa
Road were caught in the middle, prompting them to brave several hours on a big
jam against an overhang of teargas. Shops and all businesses came to a complete
standstill as well. Looking at the profile of the demonstrators, most of them
were children, youth and women. However, according to some Muslim leaders who
did not want to be mentioned, those who were inciting violence were the
extremists, requesting government authorities to deal with them accordingly.
Road were caught in the middle, prompting them to brave several hours on a big
jam against an overhang of teargas. Shops and all businesses came to a complete
standstill as well. Looking at the profile of the demonstrators, most of them
were children, youth and women. However, according to some Muslim leaders who
did not want to be mentioned, those who were inciting violence were the
extremists, requesting government authorities to deal with them accordingly.
Christians leaders including those whose churches were vandalized
and property stolen expressed deep concern, calling the demonstration an act of
hooliganism. Alikwini Mbani, Assistant Pastor for TAG Mbagala said that a group
of Muslims stormed into his church — stealing several equipment before running
away amid threats that they would burn it all down. He named some of the stolen
church equipment as speakers, guitars, broke vehicles, and several others. More
than ten vehicles were destroyed, including two police land drovers. One of
them was burnt.
and property stolen expressed deep concern, calling the demonstration an act of
hooliganism. Alikwini Mbani, Assistant Pastor for TAG Mbagala said that a group
of Muslims stormed into his church — stealing several equipment before running
away amid threats that they would burn it all down. He named some of the stolen
church equipment as speakers, guitars, broke vehicles, and several others. More
than ten vehicles were destroyed, including two police land drovers. One of
them was burnt.
Source: IPP The Guardian Newspaper, Tanzania
