Kwiji Yami: I maintain that the legal rejection of Islam in Angola is a measure of national self-defense.
I argue that the religion is not recognized because it fails to comply with local laws and attempts to override our Constitution with Sharia law, which discriminates against women and punishes freedom of thought.
Islam expanded into Luanda's poor neighborhoods through trade and small grocery stores, creating financial dependency and using community aid as a disguise for conversion.
In the face of conflicts and terrorism in Africa, the State must act preemptively to protect our identity and culture.
William: Angola is a secular state; its Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience, belief, and worship for all citizens.
However, for a religion to gain official recognition from the State, which allows for formal registration and the legal construction of its own temples, it requires at least 60,000 signatures from followers (a number that used to be 100,000 in the past) and a presence in at least 12 of the country's 18 provinces.
Since the Muslim community in Angola is a minority (mostly made up of West African immigrants and a smaller proportion of local citizens), Islamic organizations have not yet been able to formally reach those numbers to obtain institutional legalization.
Many other churches (mainly evangelical and smaller Christian sects) are also not legalized for the same reason. Being "without State recognition" simply means the group cannot operate as an official legal entity before the government, but the private religious practice of praying, gathering, and professing one's faith is protected by the Constitution.
Past news regarding the closure of mosques was tied to building permit inspections or the lack of commercial licenses for the structures (since many operated haphazardly out of warehouses and grocery stores), not to official persecution or a ban on the Quran.
What do I, William, think?
I consider this an overreach by the State.
I stand for freedom of speech.
If a group wants to build a church to worship Satan, that's fine by me.
What do I expect from the State?
The construction must follow safety codes, if it's an earthquake-prone area, proper foundations must be part of the blueprint.
They will pay fees and property taxes just like any other property in the area.
Financial contributions must be reported, and they should pay taxes like any other business.
Animal sacrifice or torture would be banned, as far as I'm concerned.
They must respect noise pollution ordinances; the neighbors shouldn't be forced to participate in the service.
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