Angola Becomes First Country to Ban Islam, Shuts Down All Mosques

Several newspapers report that the African country of Angola has become the first country in the world to ban Islam and Muslims.
The Angolan Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva was quoted by news agencies and Angola newspapers as saying,
"The process of legalisation of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human rights, their mosques would be closed until further notice."
As part of the ban, the Angolan government ordered the demolition of the mosques in the country.
According to the official, such a decision became the latest in a series of attempts to ban "illegal" sects in the country.
This statement by Silva was made during her appearance last week at the 6th Commission of the National Assembly.
The minister says that the move became necessary in order to fight the emergence of congregations whose worshipping is contradictory to the customs of Angola culture.
The measure concerns not only Islam - many other not legalized faiths will face closure of their houses of worship.
The list of the banned sects published by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in the Angolan newspaper 'Jornal de Angola' contains all the sects, which are not allowed to conduct worship.
"In addition, we also have a long list of more than a thousand legalization applications," the official stated.
Commenting on the issue, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said,
"This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country."
Angola's population of 16 million is predominantly Christian, with only 80,000-90,000 Muslims, the majority of whom are migrants from West Africa and families of Lebanese origin, according to the US State Department.
The crackdown on Islam comes as Christians in the Middle East are being forced from Muslim countries.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren noted in 2012 that the Christian population in the Middle East dropped from 20% a century ago to 5% currently amid ongoing persecution of Christians by Muslims.
Oren noted in Egypt 200,000 Coptic Christians fled their homes in 2011 amid anti-Christian violence during the "Arab spring" uprising that toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak.
In 2012 Saudi Arabia's top Muslim leader, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Shaikh, issued a fatwa (religious decree) to demolish all churches on the Arabian peninsula.
Particularly in Africa, analysts have commented that Islamist forces have been killing and expelling Christians largely with negligible international criticism.
Aside from Islam, other religions that have not been legalized will face similar measures in Angola. The non-legalized religions on the list "published by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in the Angolan newspaper 'Jornal de Angola' are prohibited to conduct worship, so they should keep their doors closed," said Silva.
The Minister of Culture added that there is a legalization process through which over a thousand religious sects are currently applying.