Angola Bans Islam, Begins Tearing Down Mosques

In an apparent attempt to prevent the spread of Islamic extremism, the African nation ofAngola has banned Islam and is in the process of tearing down mosques. On November 24, Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos said the country is working toward putting an end to Islamic influence in Angola once and for all. According to several Angolan newspapers, Angola has become the first country in the world to ban Islam and Muslims, taking first measures by destroying mosques in the country.”

However, no official explanation has been given as to why Islam currently faces a need to be legalized in Angola despite its presence in the country for many years. Angola is a majority-Christian nation of about 16 million people, an estimated 55 percent of whom are Catholic, 25 percent of whom belong to African Christian denominations, 10 percent of whom follow major Protestant traditions, 5 percent of whom belong to Brazilian Evangelical churches and where only between 80,000 and 90,000 people are Muslim.