Evangelist Arrested in Zanzibar, Tanzania

October

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Oct 5, 2009
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Christian university students on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar, a predominantly Muslim area off the coast of East Africa, have been denied the right to worship, while on another part of the isle a Christian leader has been jailed.

Sources said evangelist Peter Masanja, a resident of Zanzibar’s southeastern town of Paje, was arrested by security agents sometime in early August. Earlier this year Masanja, a member of the Pentecostal Church in Zanzibar, would invite Christians to his house, as he had made part of his land available for church activities. Area Muslims interpreted it as plans to establish another church there, the sources said.

The rumor angered local residents, and they vowed to prohibit any Christian activities, the sources said.

“It was only after her husband failed to return home that Masanja’s wife knew that there was something amiss,” said a source who requested anonymity. “After several days of searching, reports reached the wife that Masanja had been arrested and imprisoned in Kilimani cell.”

Pastors from Tanzania’s Zanzibar Island sought to meet with prison authorities about Masanja’s arrest, but officials informed them that the person in charge of the prison was away on official business, said Bishop Obeid Fabian, chairman of an association of congregations known as the Fraternal Churches.

“We are asking for prayers for him and his family, that he would be released,” Fabian said.

At Zanzibar University, a private school in Tunguu 18 kilometers (12 miles) from Zanzibar Town, Islamic administrators have denied Christian students freedom of worship while retaining that constitutional right for Muslims, said Samson Zuberi, Christian Union students coordinator.

Three Christian Union student leaders have protested to school officials and threatened to go to court over the discrimination, he said. Although freedom of worship among Christians has long been restricted at the university, the decision to ban it completely caused an outcry. The vice-chancellor’s office on Dec. 28, 2009 issued the order forbidding Christian students from conducting their affairs and meetings on the school campus.

Numbering about 100 at a university with more than 2,500 students, the Christian students say they have felt the administration increasingly discriminating against them. There are two mosques at the university, which is sponsored by an Islamic charity, Dar el Uman Charitable Association, registered in Geneva, Switzerland, according to the school’s Web site.

In an April 12 circular, university Dean of Students Mavua H. Mussa warned those defying worship regulations to seek other learning institutions, saying that the ban on religious activities in lecture theaters, halls of residence or anywhere else on campus was absolute.

Students said the ban violates sections 19(1) and 20(1) of the Zanzibar Constitution of 1984, which provide for freedom of association, including religious groups, free of government control. Articles 19(1) (2) and 20(1) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977 provide for the same freedom, they said.

Fabian told Compass by telephone that the students will seek counsel from Christian students at universities in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, Tanzania.

“We have advised that before they take the case to court, the three Christian Union leaders should travel to get counsel from their fellow students at the universities of Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, especially the Christian law students, to get the correct interpretation of the Tanzanian constitution on the right of worship,” Fabian said.

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Although the articles seems to be outdated these issues are real leading this country in unstopable war. In my village in Bukoba we have like ten muslim families in about 250 christian families but muslims are respected and have their pls to warship. Whats wrong with znz. Should we also kick out these muslims from our village?
 
Lazima wa intergrate na Culture ya zanzibar, if oyu are in ROME do as Romans DO, huwezi kuleta mivitu isiyo kubalika na jamii na wenyeji wako.
 
Kama walikuwa wanatabia kama wanayofanya huku bara, wala sishangai, kwani huku wanapiga kelele usiku kucha, majirani hawalali
 
Kama walikuwa wanatabia kama wanayofanya huku bara, wala sishangai, kwani huku wanapiga kelele usiku kucha, majirani hawalali

sauti za ibada za wakristo ni kelele?!. Z&#1548;bar niijuayo mimi kuanzia saa 10.30 alfajiri huwezi kupata usingizi kwasababu ya kelele za adhana, kwao siyo kosa lakini sauti yoyote itokayo kwenye kinywa cha mkristo(mijitu ya bara) ni dhambi.
 
Lazima wa intergrate na Culture ya zanzibar, if oyu are in ROME do as Romans DO, huwezi kuleta mivitu isiyo kubalika na jamii na wenyeji wako.

Do you mean culture ya Zanzibar hairuhusu dini nyingine yoyote zaidi ya Muslim kupractice dini zao!??? Sasa je na hao Wazanzibari wakikataliwa ku practice dini yao wakiwa ktk mazingira yasiyo yao (ugenini!)?? hapo itakuwaje?? i think wanafunzi wale wa kikristo wana haki ya kuabudu dini yao whatsoever!, sina uhakika na Mr Masanja though, kama alivunja sheria ya makelele na waumini wenzake ktk muda usioruhusiwa hilo linaweza kuwa ni problem. Hivi how can someone spend loads of time instigating others on the bases of religion??
 
Lazima wa intergrate na Culture ya zanzibar, if oyu are in ROME do as Romans DO, huwezi kuleta mivitu isiyo kubalika na jamii na wenyeji wako.
This is CRAP!!
Ku-Integrate na culture ndio kukataza watu wasiabudu? Hivi wewe akili zako zimehamia kwenye mak***o yako????
Na wao wakikatazwa kuabudu mungu wao mahali pengine wataridhika na uamuzi huo?
Waisilamu wana unafiki sana kila Mahali!!!
 
Lazima wa intergrate na Culture ya zanzibar, if oyu are in ROME do as Romans DO, huwezi kuleta mivitu isiyo kubalika na jamii na wenyeji wako.

Don't you know about religious tolerance eboo!!This is not the era of such arguments. As far as government policy is concern we should accept others religious beliefs even if it disagree with yours!!!
 
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