Religiously, Tanzania is split. Mainland Tanzania, historically, has been influenced by Christianity and socialism. The mainly Muslim population of the Zanzibar Archipelago wants recognition from the central government and a proposed Constitution is making provision for courts governed by Sharia (Islamic law). Violence against Christians at the hands of Islamic extremists has been reduced by the new government’s weakening of the aggressive “Awakening” movement, but Christians are still at risk, particularly in Zanzibar, but also in the coastal region of mainland Tanzania and Bukoba in the northwest.

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Tanzanian widow overcomes grief of husband’s murder during spate of church attacks in east Africa

Tanzanian widow overcomes grief of husband's murder during spate of church attacks in east Africa

“Widows often suffer great loneliness. After I lost Elias I feared that loneliness very much.” Three years on from husband Elias’ death, Mary Lunyamila Meshack recalls how her life changed forever the night he stood guard during an overnight service at their church in Mwanza, on the shores of Lake […]

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Attackers torch Tanzanian university

A security guard was killed and two other people seriously injured at a private university in north-east Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border, on 2 September when a mob attacked and set fire to the campus. Students at the Lutheran Church-owned Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University in Lushoto escaped through small […]

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Six churches torched in Tanzania

Six churches torched in Tanzania

The Buyekera Pentecostal Assemblies of God church in Bukoba, after it was set on fire on 23 September.Courtesy Open Doors International   Six churches have been burnt down in northwest Tanzania within the past week. First, on 23 September, three churches were torched – the Living Waters International Church, Buyekera […]

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Tanzania reconsiders Islamic courts

Tanzania will review its decision to try to introduce ‘Kadhi’ courts into its legal system, the prime minister announced March 31 following tense discussions in Parliament. ‘Kadhi’ courts would allow Muslims to enforce marriage, divorce, inheritance and family rights in their community, and their verdicts would be recognised by Tanzanian […]

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Tanzanian teacher murdered in church, pastor and wife on Zanzibar attacked by extremists

Tanzanian teacher murdered in church, pastor and wife on Zanzibar attacked by extremists

Pastor Crodward Edwar (centre) at a press conference about the Bukoba murderHarakati News blog   Unknown attackers killed a Christian man by machete and injured another in Bukoba in northwest Tanzania on Thursday, Oct. 9, according to sources. This followed another recent incident on Zanzibar island in which a pastor […]

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Bombs heighten fears that Zanzibar autonomy movement targets Christians

Bombs heighten fears that Zanzibar autonomy movement targets Christians

A series of bomb blasts in Tanzania’s island of Zanzibar is stoking fears that an Islamist breakaway movement is increasingly targeting Christians. Since 2010, the cases have been on the increase and Christians and their leaders — many of them originally from mainland Tanzania — say they are anxious. In […]

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