Former Tanzanian president: Violence in name of Islam is 'hooliganism'

June 10, 2012

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Former Tanzanian president Ali Hassan Mwinyi spoke out against violence in the name of Islam at a mosque opening in Singida's Majengo area on Saturday (June 9th), Tanzania's Daily News reported.

The retired president directed his address at people who initiated riots against Christians in Zanzibar a week ago, during which six churches were burned. He also applied it to broader regional religious conflicts.

"So many Muslim groups with evil intentions were coming up everywhere. Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, Uamsho and you-name-it," he said. "They all pretend to have the Muslim teachings at heart, even better than Prophet Mohammad himself."

"Now these people who think they have come to awake the 'sleeping' Muslims in the country start causing unnecessary unrests by setting fire to churches. That is not Islam; I call it hooliganism," he said.

Mwinyi condemned violence against Christians in Tanzania, saying that religious tolerance was a longstanding tradition in the area.

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  • epimack
    June 12, 2012 @ 08:23:54AM

    It is very disheartening to see these Islamic groups that rise to claim things that are not known and even end up shocking their leaders. I recommend that we work hard to improve our economy and to not engage in useless arguments. They should realize that these religions existed since antiquity and if it is a matter of opposition or fighting they should have fought our ancestors and not us. We should foster love, promote work, and live a good life. If people worship in a mosque that’s fine, in church that’s fine, on a rock that’s fine, just anywhere as long as they do not break the law of the country or harm anyone else.  

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