Rwanda Continues to Shut Down Churches Under New Standards Law

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Enforcing a new law on standards for houses of worship authorities in Rwanda have conducted another round of inspections of churches and have closed down 70% of those they inspected, Baptist Global News (BGN) reports. Most churches targeted by the Rwandan government are smaller prayer houses affiliated with independent Pentecostal ministries.

In a website statement about the inspections, the Rwanda Governance Board acknowledges that the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda guarantees freedom of worship in its article 37 but adds that this right “must be exercised in accordance with the law.”

“The law requires people to pray in a place that meets certain requirements in order to prevent them from putting their lives in danger,” the RGB statement reads. Among a variety of stipulations, some of which are onerous to small, poor congregations, churches must operate in a building that is up to code, with adequate toilets and sanitary facilities. Moreover, church leaders must have “a certificate of legal personality issued by RGB, a valid letter of collaboration with the district for their branch(es), a valid degree in theology or a degree in another domain with a valid certificate in religious studies for church managerial level.”

In a statement to BGN about the effects of the law, Rwandan Emmanuel Ntirenganya said: “The impact of the decision is already visible as most churches are closed, and worshipers — especially in rural areas — have to make a longer distance to pray from few churches that were not shut down,” he said, adding that how this affects religion in the long-term is unclear.

Noting he does not object to conditions being placed on prayer houses per se, Ntirenganya added: “I think the decision is necessary in line with having decent places of worship. But some of the requirements like soundproof in every church/house of worship are very demanding for most of those in rural areas, owing to limited financial means.”

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