Radical Muslims Drive Church from Worship Place in Zanzibar
May 26, 2009 – 5:38 pmAuthorities do nothing to help threatened Christians
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 26 – Worship in a house church near Zanzibar City, on a Tanzanian island off the coast of East Africa, did not take place for the third week running on Sunday (May 24) after Muslim extremists expelled worshippers [sic] from their rented property.
Radical Muslims on May 9 drove members of Zanzibar Pentecostal Church from worship premises in a rented house at Ungunja Ukuu, on the outskirts of Zanzibar City. Angered by a recent upsurge in Christian evangelism in the area, church members said, radical Muslims had sent several threats to the Christians warning them to stop their activities. The church had undertaken a two-day evangelism campaign culminating in an Easter celebration.
On the morning of the attack, more than 20 church members had gathered for Saturday fellowship when word reached them that Muslim extremists were about to attack. As the radical group approached, the Christians fled in fear of their lives.
“The group was shouting, saying, ‘We do not want the church to be in our locality – they should leave the place and never come back again,’” said one church member who requested anonymity.
Read entire article.
UPDATE: In case you are wondering, like me, where Zanzibar is: Zanzibar.net. It’s sad to read of the persecution of Christians by Muslims, then view the Zanzibar.net tourism site, describing its “fascinating historical Stone Town and magnificent beaches”. It is interesting to note their inclusion of Christianity in the Religion section of the “What is Zanzibar?” page.
Let us pray that God will grant “utterance … to [Zanzibari Christians] in the opening of [their] mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.” Ephesians 6:19
