TANZANIA: Being Catholic in Zanzibar, A narrative Story and Reflection
Mathew Limo*
knows what to expect when he goes to church with his family. On the Tanzanian
island of Zanzibar, where 98 percent of the population is Muslim, Christians
are given the cold shoulder. The past year has been characterized by renewed
violence against Christians. So far the violence remains aimed at religious,
but the teacher has a great fear: that his wife and children may be forced to
convert to Islam.
knows what to expect when he goes to church with his family. On the Tanzanian
island of Zanzibar, where 98 percent of the population is Muslim, Christians
are given the cold shoulder. The past year has been characterized by renewed
violence against Christians. So far the violence remains aimed at religious,
but the teacher has a great fear: that his wife and children may be forced to
convert to Islam.
Church
attendance
attendance
“If we
go to church on Sunday, we have to go through a crowd of people who often try
to intimidate us,” Limo told international Catholic charity Aid to the
Church in Need. “We have a relatively large parish, about 400 people. Of
these, usually 200 come to Mass. But the houses around the church belong to
Muslims. They often shout that we are fools to go to church or that our women
are naked. In fact, the Muslim women are all covered from head to toe.” He
himself does not feel intimidated, “but a lot of comments are directed
towards our women and children.”
go to church on Sunday, we have to go through a crowd of people who often try
to intimidate us,” Limo told international Catholic charity Aid to the
Church in Need. “We have a relatively large parish, about 400 people. Of
these, usually 200 come to Mass. But the houses around the church belong to
Muslims. They often shout that we are fools to go to church or that our women
are naked. In fact, the Muslim women are all covered from head to toe.” He
himself does not feel intimidated, “but a lot of comments are directed
towards our women and children.”
Murder of
priests
priests
Christians
on the island have become even more cautious since a wave of violent attacks on
churches and individuals started in December of 2012. A Catholic priest and
Protestant pastor have been killed and another priest shot and wounded sparking
widespread fears among the Christian community. The Catholic priest Father
Evarist Mushi (55) was shot to death with three bullets upon arriving in his
car at the entrance of St. Joseph’s Cathedral to celebrate Sunday Mass. Father
Ambrose Mkenda sustained serious injuries in a subsequent ambush.
on the island have become even more cautious since a wave of violent attacks on
churches and individuals started in December of 2012. A Catholic priest and
Protestant pastor have been killed and another priest shot and wounded sparking
widespread fears among the Christian community. The Catholic priest Father
Evarist Mushi (55) was shot to death with three bullets upon arriving in his
car at the entrance of St. Joseph’s Cathedral to celebrate Sunday Mass. Father
Ambrose Mkenda sustained serious injuries in a subsequent ambush.
The
perpetrators are still at large and according to many Christians, local police
have sometimes obstructed the investigation distorting evidence at the crime
scene. According to Limo the perpetrators are to be found among the inhabitants
of Zanzibar: “They’re not outsiders, but local people who have been
radicalized and have even been trained by Al–Shabab, the terrorist group which
has Somalia as its home base. The organization is closely linked to the
religious group Uamsho (Awake), which seeks the establishment of an independent
Islamic state on Zanzibar.
perpetrators are still at large and according to many Christians, local police
have sometimes obstructed the investigation distorting evidence at the crime
scene. According to Limo the perpetrators are to be found among the inhabitants
of Zanzibar: “They’re not outsiders, but local people who have been
radicalized and have even been trained by Al–Shabab, the terrorist group which
has Somalia as its home base. The organization is closely linked to the
religious group Uamsho (Awake), which seeks the establishment of an independent
Islamic state on Zanzibar.
Fear of
conversion
conversion
Limo still
feels safe enough to leave home and travel. “If there are elections, like
next year, the atmosphere is often explosive. On the street, people try to
embarrass you or to make you angry. In periods like that I come home early and
do not go out in the evening.” He explains that although this is not the
case at present, he still worries about his children. “At home we try to
encourage and to teach them a love for Christ and the Church. But we are
insecure about what others do. We often hear stories about Muslims trying to
convert children. Sadly enough we need to tell our children to be careful in
building friendships with Muslim children.”
feels safe enough to leave home and travel. “If there are elections, like
next year, the atmosphere is often explosive. On the street, people try to
embarrass you or to make you angry. In periods like that I come home early and
do not go out in the evening.” He explains that although this is not the
case at present, he still worries about his children. “At home we try to
encourage and to teach them a love for Christ and the Church. But we are
insecure about what others do. We often hear stories about Muslims trying to
convert children. Sadly enough we need to tell our children to be careful in
building friendships with Muslim children.”
(*For
security reasons a pseudonym has been used.)
security reasons a pseudonym has been used.)
SOURCE: Courtesy of ZENIT News Service (20th May, 2014)
