Islamist extremism spreading in Tanzania

Islamisation is increasing at an alarming rate in Tanzania according to a bishop from the country.

Bishop Bernadin Mfumbusa of Kondoa warned that religious freedom and other civil liberties were under threat from intolerant radical Muslim influences sweeping in from countries neighbouring the east African nation.

Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, the bishop said: “We see more and more itinerant preachers from Saudi Arabia and Sudan entering this country – and Muslims are increasingly making political demands.”

These demands include extending Islamic Sharia law and making everyone subject to it – Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

Bishop Mfumbusa said: “In recent times there has been a constant demand to introduce Shari‘a into other parts of Tanzania which do not have a majority of Muslims.”

Sharia law is already in force in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago with an almost completely Muslim population, but it does not apply to other parts of the country.

The bishop said there were calls for Sharia, which currently applies in areas of civil law such as marriage and inheritance, to be extended to cover criminal law.

“They claim that otherwise Muslims would be able to avoid the law by claiming not to be Muslim.

“To prevent this they say Sharia law must be made applicable to everyone.”

But, despite these demands to extend Islamic law, no more than 31 per cent of Tanzania’s 45 million inhabitants are Muslim according to Church sources.

Christians make up more than half the population – including more than 12 million Catholics.
Bishop Mfumbusa described how the influence of radical Islam can be seen on the country’s streets.

He said: “In many parts of the country more veiled women than in the past can be seen, among them small girls.”

The bishop added: “Verbal attacks are also on the increase,” but stressed that to date there had been no violent attacks in Kondoa Diocese.

He said that education is not only being radicalised but even Catholic schools can face difficulties.

“In the church schools, which are also attended by Muslim children, we must be very sensitive and cautious to avoid any undesirable incidents,” said Bishop Mfumbusa.

The number of madrassas – Qur’anic schools – has also grown, with more extremist ones encouraging pupils not to attend regular schools, which is compulsory in Tanzania.