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By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
DAKAR, SENEGAL (ANS) -- A local Muslim politician at the head of a mob of
young men stormed a church in Dakar on Sunday 23 May, insulting and assaulting Christian
worshippers. The youths, armed with knives and stones, drove them out and occupied the
building, the Barnabus Fund reports.
According to the Barnabus Fund report, the church, which has only recently opened, first
encountered opposition from the local politician when it met with officials to receive
formal approval before beginning to hold services.
The Barnabus Fund report says:"Having failed to prevent Christians from establishing
the church, local conservative Muslims took the law into their own hands and decided to
assault the church claiming that Christians were making too much noise during services and
disturbing the local community."
It adds: "Despite the involvement of the police and local authorities, and a
reconciliation meeting in which church leaders apologized for any noise they may have
inadvertently made, the church building has still not been returned to the
congregation."
The report says the incident is the latest in a series of several attacks upon Christians
and their churches which have taken place in different parts of the country in recent
years. Church leaders fear the incidents may be part of a concerted campaign to put
pressure on Christians by Islamic extremist factions who want to make Senegal an
exclusively Islamic country. Tensions were heightened for Christians and other non-Muslims
in the country two years ago when the President announced that “Senegal will be 100%
Muslim in three years.”
PRAYER NEEDED
The Barnabus Fund asks Christians to pray for wisdom and guidance for Church leaders as
they continue to pursue this case through the correct legal channels, and seek to alert
national leaders about the difficulties the Christian community is beginning to face in
Senegal.
"Ask that the church building will be swiftly restored to the congregation. Pray for
an end to tension and any hostility towards Christians. Pray (also) that Christians will
be able to meet freely for worship throughout Senegal without fear of violence or
intimidation."
The BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE may be contacted in writing at:
The Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY,
Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK;Tel 01672 564938, Fax 01672 565030,
E-mail info@barnabasfund.org; Web www.barnabasfund.org
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