Muslims raid worship service
Analysts worry attack indicator of more violence
By Michael Carl
11/16/2009 Uganda (WND)-A recent raid by Muslims on a Christian worship service near the capital city of Kampala , Uganda – where several members were injured and their building was damaged – is prompting concern among missions agencies that a new and more violent form of Islam is taking root in the region.
The attack, carried out by a 40-member mob wielding machetes and clubs, surprised many in a nation where conflicts between Christians and Muslims have not reached the level of other nations, according to Amnesty International’s Msia Kibona Clark.
“Unlike Kenya and Tanzania , Ugandan Muslims have not had much real or sustained contact with extremist Muslim factions abroad. There is a large Christian and Muslim population in Uganda but the groups have historically gotten along fairly well,” Clark said.
” Uganda is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which means that Uganda serves to uphold Muslim values and even supports Islam in the United Nations,” said Jonathan Racho of International Christian Concern. ” Uganda ‘s participation in this group began when Idi Amin was the leader of Uganda .”
Racho says this is not the first instance of Muslim-backed, anti-Christian persecution.
“Christian minorities in the Muslim-dominated areas of Uganda frequently suffer persecution at the hands of the Muslim majority,” Racho said.
The attack is drawing the attention of missions specialists, because it represents an emboldened attitude of the Muslims in the capital region.
Racho says this is consistent with the way Muslims operate.
“When Muslims become a majority even in one part of a country where Christians are the majority, they become very vocal, extremist and radicalized,” Racho said.
