Rwandan Churches Targeted in "Noise Pollution" Crackdown

|PIC1|The Rwandan police have been confiscating musical instruments from eleven different Church congregations on the grounds that the Churches are making too much noise.

Theos Badegem a policeman spoke to the BBC, saying that the moves were taken to enforce new laws on noise pollution. He also said that Mosques sounding the call to prayer were told to lower the volume of their loud speakers.

A number of Church leaders said that increased noise levels would often occur when the congregation was full. The police, in a meeting with church leaders on Saturday cautioned them to worship more quietly.

According to the BBC, microphones are often used for sermons by Rwandan preachers and musical instruments are often connected to sound systems.

Among the items confiscated by the Rwandan police were guitars, keyboards and speakers. Badege said that the instruments could be returned to their owners, if they visited the police station, where they would also receive a caution.

Breaking the noise pollution laws in Rwanda can result in a fine of $18-180. Badege said that nightclubs were targeted last year when the laws were enacted and were only re-opened after they were sound-proofed.