CISA REPORT
ZANZIBAR, October 19,2012 (CISA) -The arrest of a top member of a Muslim community, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda, has sparked unrest in Dar es Salaam and the city of Zanzibar.
Sheikh Ponda, the Secretary of the Council of Muslims’ Organizations, was arrested for inciting religious hatred that lead to Friday’s attacks against churches, says Father Vic Missiaen, Secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops Conference.
Sheikh Ponda was later arraigned in court together with his supporters and charged with incitement which he denied. The case was set for mention on November 1.
The Sheikh said he only sensitized people and nothing else. He denied having incited anyone, saying the placards contained sentiments from Muslims, and pointed that he had no idea on who wrote them.
“The peak of tension coincided with a rally of youths demanding the release of Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda”, said Fr Missiaen.
Fr Missiaen called the Council an extremist organization that doesn’t represent the large majority of the Muslim community. According to him, the Council is linked to the Uamsho, a radical Islamic group whose name, when translated to English, means Reawakening.
This comes after an almost similar unrest, mainly concentrated in the Mbagala neighbourhood, took place last week.
In the Mbagala unrest, hundreds of people stormed an Anglican church, a Lutheran church and an Evangelical church after a clash among youths triggered an act against a copy of the Koran.
Police intervention impeded the youths from reaching the Catholic Church in Mbagala.
Mbagala neighbiourhood is among the poorest areas of Dar es Salaam, inhabited mainly by Muslims.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
ZANZIBAR, October 19,2012 (CISA) -The arrest of a top member of a Muslim community, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda, has sparked unrest in Dar es Salaam and the city of Zanzibar.
Sheikh Ponda, the Secretary of the Council of Muslims’ Organizations, was arrested for inciting religious hatred that lead to Friday’s attacks against churches, says Father Vic Missiaen, Secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops Conference.
Sheikh Ponda was later arraigned in court together with his supporters and charged with incitement which he denied. The case was set for mention on November 1.
The Sheikh said he only sensitized people and nothing else. He denied having incited anyone, saying the placards contained sentiments from Muslims, and pointed that he had no idea on who wrote them.
“The peak of tension coincided with a rally of youths demanding the release of Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda”, said Fr Missiaen.
Fr Missiaen called the Council an extremist organization that doesn’t represent the large majority of the Muslim community. According to him, the Council is linked to the Uamsho, a radical Islamic group whose name, when translated to English, means Reawakening.
This comes after an almost similar unrest, mainly concentrated in the Mbagala neighbourhood, took place last week.
In the Mbagala unrest, hundreds of people stormed an Anglican church, a Lutheran church and an Evangelical church after a clash among youths triggered an act against a copy of the Koran.
Police intervention impeded the youths from reaching the Catholic Church in Mbagala.
Mbagala neighbiourhood is among the poorest areas of Dar es Salaam, inhabited mainly by Muslims.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
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