Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 226 – Tue 01 Jul 2003

———————————————- MALAWI & KENYA: CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM TENSIONS BOIL ———————————————-

Nothing has divided the world’s Muslims as much as the events of 11 September 2001 and since then. Whilst Islamic militancy and terrorism have led many Muslims to question their faith, the US-led ‘War on Terror’ and their bombing of Afghanistan and Iraq – events frequently labeled by Islamists as a new Christian Crusade – have drawn many Muslims towards the more radically orthodox and militant expressions of Islam. Many nations where Muslims and Christians have lived peacefully side-by-side are now finding that Islamic zeal and Muslim tensions are rising to levels previously unknown in their communities. Saudi and OPEC funded passive Islamic expansion prepared the kindling, and the ‘War on Terror’ ignited the fire.

In Malawi (80% Christian, 13% Muslim) on 28 June, the army had to be deployed to control Muslim rioters who, for two days, targeted the Christian community in Mangochi, a resort town 180 kilometres (115 miles) northeast of the commercial capital Blantyre. Save the Children (USA) and seven churches were vandalised and looted. Rioters dragged Bishop Allesandro Assolari from his church vehicle. Armed police then protected him while the rioters overturned and burned the vehicle. The trigger for the rioting was the government’s deportation of five alleged terrorists, all foreigners (a Kenyan, a Saudi, two Turks and a Sudanese) and all in Malawi illegally. The five are believed to be involved with al-Qaeda and have been on the CIA’s ‘watch list’ since the US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

On Sunday 29 June, Christians attended services in their vandalised churches. One observer said he had never seen the church so full. Christian pastors have exhorted their parishioners not to retaliate. Malawi’s President Bakili Muluzi said he would not tolerate religious violence nor allow it to threaten the nation. ‘You know that I am a Muslim, I don’t hide that, but I am a peaceful Muslim,’ he said. ‘I will not allow anyone to start violence in the name of religion.’ Thirteen people have been arrested. Some Muslims are so angry they have vowed, ‘We will not stop at this.’ On Monday 30 June a ‘sizable’ number of Muslims protested in Kasungu, 120 km north of the capital, Lilongwe. Police dispersed the protestors with tear gas, rubber bullets and eventually, live ammunition.

Kenya (79% Christian, 6-8% Muslim) also has recently faced similar turmoil. On 13 June, Muslims rioted because the police arrested a cleric for publicly preaching hostile and highly offensive messages against Christianity. The rioting Muslims burnt six churches in Bura (near Mombasa), destroying five – an Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), a Pentecostal Evangelism Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) church, an East African Pentecostal Church (EAPC), a Full Gospel Church of Kenya (FGCK) and the Bethel Church.

To quell the riot, the Muslim cleric was released by order of an MP and no one was charged over the church burnings. Bura Christians are afraid. Rev. Simon Mgumba of the PEFA Church said his congregation was decreasing after the incident because many feared coming to church. Kenya’s Christian leaders are still waiting to see whether the arsonists will receive justice or impunity.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* strong, courageous national, regional and civic leadership in Malawi and Kenya, that enforces rule of law, upholds justice, denounces and contains outbursts of religious violence and intolerance, and defends liberties.

* wisdom and strength for President Bakili Muluzi (Malawi) and President Mwai Kibaki (Kenya) to make just decisions.

* the Christians of Malawi and Kenya as they walk a new road, face to face with Islamic anger, and that their leaders will be strong and wise, promoting prayer and grace, and opposing retaliation.

* for a movement of the Holy Spirit to unify the churches, deepen love, enable forgiveness, encourage reconciliation and empower mission.

‘They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.’ – Jesus (John 16:3)

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ———————————————————— CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM TENSIONS BOIL IN MALAWI & KENYA

Malawi and Kenya in East Africa each have a Christian majority and a historically peaceful Muslim minority. However, Muslim tensions have risen due to the events of 11 September 2001, and the US-led ‘War on Terror’ and bombing of Afghanistan and Iraq. When five alleged terrorists were deported from Malawi, Muslims rioters targeted the Christian community in Mangochi on 27 and 28 June, vandalising Care for the Child (USA) and seven churches. Thirteen people were arrested and Malawi’s President has vowed not to tolerate religious violence. In Kenya, when police arrested an outspoken anti-Christian Muslim cleric on 13 June, Muslims rioted and burnt six churches in Bura, near Mombasa. The cleric has been released and no one charged over the church burnings. This greatly concerns the Christians in Kenya.

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.

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