ANGOLA MOSQUES CLOSURE DUE TO LICENSING

         Jakarta, 24 Muharram 1435/28 November 2013 (MINA) –  Counsellor official of Indonesian Embassy  for Angola in Namibia said  the main factor of destruction and closure of mosques in Angola due to building permits and this country has not yet recognized Islam as a new legitimate religion in the country.

         The managing counsellor of Ekonomic, Social Information, and Culture of Indonesian Embassy, Pramudya Sulaksono, also said so far there are no reports of persecution against Muslims and anti-Islamic movements in the western African country.

        “According to our sources, including Indonesian Citizens (WNI) in Angola, so far there are no reports of persecution against Muslims and anti-Islamic movements in Angola,”  Pramudya  told MINA’s reporter by phone, Wednesday (27/11).

         The anti-Islam issue in the region sparked criticism from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other Islamic institutions, as well as international news reports.

         According to several Angolan newspapers, Angola has banned Islam, condemning it as “illegal” and taking first measures by destroying several mosques in the Southwest African nation.

        “The process of legalization of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, their mosques would be closed until further notice,” Rosa Cruz e Silva, the Angolan Minister of Culture, was quoted by Agence Ecofin on Friday (22/11).

        Pramudya stated that Angolan government refused  anti-Islam movement, and there are still bias information related this issue.

        He said the Indonesian Embassy team has asked the Embassy of Angola to Namibia in Windhoek, capital of Namibia and was informed that they have not received information on anti-Islam movements  in Angola and asked for full week to clarify the issue.

        Yet, the counsellor pointed out their sources reports, including Indonesians in Angola, so far the situation is so far safe apart of the anti-Islam issue, as reported by media recently.

        The embassy official said total number Indonesian citizens in Angola is about 179 registered people.

         Islam is a minority in Angola, estimated at  80,000 to 90,000 Muslims, two and a half percent of the 18.5 million population of Angola, which largely embraced traditional indigenous beliefs (47 percent), while 38 percent of Angolans embrace the Roman Catholic and 15 percent of them are Protestants. (L/P02/P03/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)