DAR ES SALAAM â Leaders of various Islamic organizations in Tanzania yesterday staged a rally here and expressed concern over what they described as âconsistent intimidationâ by authorities. âThere are many cases in which government authorities have been undermining the welfare of Muslims in Tanzania and the practice began shortly after the countryâs independence in 1960s,â said Musa Kundecha, who was described as leader of the organizations.
| This is the standard "Poor, Put-upon Muslims" refrain... |
Reading a prepared statement, Kundecha told hundreds of Muslims, who had gathered at Mtambani mosque grounds here, that Muslims were being discriminated against during selection for various education and employment opportunities. He said leaders of Islamic organizations in Tanzania were now drawing up a strategy to arrest the trend. âWe donât have ill feelings against other religions, but we must speak up our minds and correct this situation so that people of different creed get equal chances in our society,â Kundecha said.
| When they say they don't have anything against other religions, expect explosions within the next month or two. Those will be piously deplored, "but we can understand what drove them to take desperate measures. We warned you. But it ain't us." |
He cited the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which was enacted in November last year, saying the legislation was aimed at frustrating Muslims. âIn many occasions, Muslims were suspects of terrorist acts,â he said.
| In many they were the perpetrators, weren't they? Blown up any embassies lately? |
He criticized Tanzaniaâs immigration authorities, who recently expelled two officials of Islamic non-governmental organizations on allegations of violating immigration laws, pointing out the move was also calculated to undermine the welfare of Muslims. Kundecha said that the two organizations offered various social support to Muslims, especially on delivery of arms and ammunition education services. The department canceled the Tanzanian citizenship of Ahmed Said Abry, 47, who worked for the Dhinureyin Islamic Foundation in the central region of Iringa, and ordered him to leave the country.
| "Get the hell out and stay out. What'dya think we are? Pakistan?" |
Abry, who is originally from Yemen, and acquired Tanzanian citizenship in 1983 through naturalization, was accused of sheltering illegal immigrants. Tunisian Ramzi Mizaun Ben Fraj, alias Abu Hudhaif, 34, who was the director of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation based in the eastern coastal region of Tanga, also faces deportation after he was accused of lying to immigration officials about his nationality.
"Well, of course I'm a Samoan!"
"You don't look Samoan." |
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