Angola Islam Ban Dominates Social Media
“Speak up against what Angola is doing to the Muslims residing within the country. This is the beginning states of mass killings,” Sal Kais K wrote on Twitter.
Another twitter user changed his ID to be ‘Angola & Islam’, posting a series of tweets to denounce Angola move.
“Freedom is GOD given, but trapped by human beings and released under persistent pressure,” he wrote.
“#Islam #Angola ‘They will struggle to extinguish the Light of Allah, But Allah has perfected His Light, even when the unbelievers deny it.’”
Several African and Angolan newspapers and news agencies have reported that Angola has banned Islam in its country, condemning it as "illegal".
Quoting the nation’s Minister of Culture as offering statements, the reports said that the Angolan authorities moved to destroy mosques in the country, including a mosque in the urban municipality of Viana, Luanda which was destroyed last October 17.
Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos reportedly weighed in on the controversy, as he was quoted in Nigeria's Osun Defender newspaper on Sunday as saying, "This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country."
The news ignited Muslim anger worldwide amid calls for ending the claimed ban.
Though shocking to many people worldwide, the news about Angola ban was praised by anti-Islam bloggers, including Pamela Geller and Walid Shoebat.
Yet, other commentators confirmed that the Southwest African nation’s decision would only inflame religious conflicts worldwide.
“Angola looks to ban Islam on its territory. This is a bad idea that will further inflame global religious conflict,” Walter Russell Mead, a professor at New York’s Bard College, and blogger, wrote on Twitter.
Others expressed concerns about possible persecution for Angolan Muslims.
There are a 100,000 Muslims in Angola, they won't stop practicing Islam. The government will react with force and it will end in bloodshed,” Khalifa wrote on Twitter.
“If Angola banned any other religion the whole world would go crazy but no one will say anything because it's Islam,” he added.
“Goodbye to another basic right RT @LouiseRedvers #Angola plans to shut down mosques.. #Islam not officially recognized as a religion there,” OSISA wrote.
Angola is a majority-Christian nation of about 16 million people, of whom an estimated 55 percent are Catholic, 25 percent belong to African Christian denominations, 10 percent follow major Protestant traditions, and 5 percent belong to Brazilian Evangelical churches.
According to Wikipedia, Islam in Angola is a minority religion with 80,000-90,000 adherents, composed largely of migrants from West Africa and families of Lebanese origin.
Muslim Angolans are represented by the Supreme Council of Angolan Muslims of Luanda.
Source: On Islam
