Islamistoptøjer på Zanzibar truer Tanzanias enhed

Forfatter billede

I løbet af det sidste år har Zanzibar været rystet af flere islamiske demonstrationer, som har haft vold og død til følge. Senest blev en politibetjent dræbt, veje afspærret og butikker lukket

ZANZIBAR CITY, 24. oktober, 2012 (IRIN): The group behind the demonstrations, Uamsho (the Association for Islamic Mobilization and Propagation), has plastered messages across Stone Town agitating for the archipelago’s independence.

One such message, “if the coat doesn’t fit, take it off”, refers to disbanding the United Republic of Tanzania, which was born out of the 1964 union of Zanzibar and the mainland area of Tanganyika.

The most recent unrest began when Uamsho supporters claimed their leader, Sheik Farid Hadi, had been abducted (bortført) by government forces – a charge the police denied. Posts on Uamsho’s Facebook page threatened attacks against Christians if Hadi was not released; he resurfaced on 16 October, three days after his disappearance.

Discontent

Established as an Islamic NGO in 2001, Uamsho has since grown radicalized, gaining popularity among disappointed supporters of the largest opposition party, Civic United Front, which formed a government of national unity with Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), in 2010.

Uamsho was also involved in two other protests earlier in the year.

The Tanzanian government has taken a strong stand against the riots. “The government will not tolerate some few individuals threatening other people or using religion to disrupt the peace and harmony which the country has enjoyed over the past 50 years,” said Emmanuel Nchimbi, the Minister for Home Affairs, at a recent news conference.

Analysts say the violence is fuelled by unemployment and lack of education among young people; youth unemployment in Zanzibar stands at about 20 percent.

Læs videre på: http://irinnews.org/Report/96631/TANZANIA-Islamist-riots-threaten-Zanzibar-s-stability

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