07/10/2018 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – The judicial system is contributing to the unequal treatment of Christians in Zanzibar. The island of Zanzibar is a popular tourist destination, famous for its exotic spices, rich cultural, political, and social history, and beautiful historic sites. However, the rich history of Tanzania’s semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago has concealed Christian persecution for decades. The domination of the Islamic elite and primarily Muslim population has led to religious discrimination against Christians by treating them as second-class citizens.

According to Simon*, a pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Zanzibar, the conflict between Muslims and Christians goes unnoticed and is rarely covered by local media.

He told International Christian Concern (ICC), “It is crystal clear that the rise of Christianity in Zanzibar has attracted hostility and discrimination, issues that the international community knows too little or nothing about. It’s true Zanzibar is known for tourism and spices, but the truth of the matter is that the Christian body has been persecuted for so long.”

An Islamist group called ‘Uamsho’ (Swahili for “awakening”) has been calling for the secession of Zanzibar from Tanzania and thereafter the introduction of Islamic laws. This sociopolitical move has led to the deprivation of Christians’ right to worship, right to own property, and freedom of expression.

In 2017, a court in Zanzibar ruled that Pastor Amos Kanula should not continue with the construction of his church and ordered him to vacate the plot of land that he legally acquired in 2004.

Pastor Amos decried, “Our legal pursuit to retain the ownership of the church compound has been halted by the Islam-influenced judicial ruling. We fear that the unfinished church building will be demolished anytime and a mosque will be constructed.”