Muslims cry foul as Angola govt denies banning Islam

Luanda, Nov 27: Angola's government on Tuesday denied it had banned Islam and closed mosques in the country, after reports sparked outrage among Muslims worldwide.

But David Ja, a spokesman for local Muslims, challenged the government's account and said that a number of mosques had already been closed. “There is no war in Angola against Islam or any other religion,” said Manuel Fernando, director of the National Institute for Religious Affairs, part of the Ministry of Culture. “There is no official position that targets the destruction or closure of places of worship, whichever they are,” Fernando told AFP.

Reports that Angola would crack down on Muslims had drawn condemnation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and others. In Egypt, Mufti Shawqi Allam said such a move would be “a provocation not only to Angolan Muslims but to more than 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world.”

Ja condemned what he described as “political persecution” and “religious intolerance.”

“A mosque was closed last week in Huambo (in the south) and we have been subjected to pressure this week regarding a mosque in Luanda,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Culture, these closures were related to a lack of necessary land titles, building licenses or other official documents.

Analyst Alex Vines said the rumors followed Culture Minister Rosa Cruz e Silva's announcement last week that the government would crack down on “sects.”

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7 Bangladeshis arrested in Udupi after man with fake passport caught attempting to fly Dubai via Mangaluru Airport

News Network

October 12,2024

Udupi: In a significant operation, the Malpe police have arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals who were illegally residing in India using forged Aadhaar cards. Udupi Superintendent of Police, Dr. Arun K, stated that the arrests followed after an immigration incident involving one of the group's members.

Muhammed Manik, one of the arrested individuals, was caught attempting to travel to Dubai via Mangaluru International Airport with a fake passport. Alert immigration officers at the airport detained him and handed him over to the Bajpe police, who registered a case. Following this, the Udupi police, acting on the information provided by the Bajpe police and immigration authorities, conducted an investigation that led to the arrest of the seven individuals in Hoode village, Paduthonse, Udupi.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Hakeem Ali (24), Sujon S K alias Farooq (19), Ismail S K (30), Kareem S K (20), Salam S K (22), Rajikul S K (20), and Mohammed Sojib (20), all hailing from Bangladesh.

The group entered India without any valid documentation and managed to acquire fake Aadhaar cards, which they used to stay in the country illegally. According to police sources, a person named Kajol from Agartala assisted them in obtaining the fraudulent Aadhaar cards, while a Bangladeshi named Usman facilitated their illegal entry into India under the guise of employment. Both Kajol and Usman are currently at large.

The Malpe police have registered cases under several sections, including Sections 19(2), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), and 190 of the BNS, related to fraud and illegal entry. Interrogations are ongoing as the police seek further details in connection with the case.

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