ICC Note: A Cardinal in Madagascar, Désiré Tzarahazana of Toamasina, believes there are signs of rising Islamic Extremism in his country. He states that there are plans to build 2,600 new Mosques and that the gulf states, Pakistan and Turkey are working to Islamize the country.

06/22/2018 Madagascar (Zenit) – One of Pope Francis’s new Cardinals has warned how “extremist Islam” is being imported into Madagascar, claiming that radical groups are “buying people” for their cause and that plans are afoot to build more than 2,600 mosques in the country.

Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to Church in Need, Cardinal-designate Désiré Tzarahazana of Toamasina highlighted a religious shift within the country, saying: “The rise of Islamism is palpable. You can see it everywhere. It is an invasion, with money from the Gulf States and from Pakistan – they buy people.”

He added: “There is real pressure being exerted. For example, in the north [of Madagascar] they give money to women to wear the full veil, the Burka, in the streets, in order to advertise the expansion of Islam in the country. And then in the evening, they put on their normal clothes again.”

The prelate, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Madagascar, said: “In my own diocese there are mosques being built everywhere… even though there aren’t enough Muslims to use them.

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