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| Zanzibar church killing mars music festival promoting religious tolerance | Zanzibar church killing mars music festival promoting religious tolerance |
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| Beneath a starry sky and between the twin turrets of the 18th-century Old Fort on Stone Town's seafront, one of Africa's most prestigious and amiable music festivals, Sauti za Busara – "sounds of wisdom" in Swahili – was celebrating its 10th anniversary. | Beneath a starry sky and between the twin turrets of the 18th-century Old Fort on Stone Town's seafront, one of Africa's most prestigious and amiable music festivals, Sauti za Busara – "sounds of wisdom" in Swahili – was celebrating its 10th anniversary. |
| Its director, Yusuf Mahmoud, addressed the cosmopolitan crowd that had come to hear musicians from Mali and Senegal, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Tanzania. "Breaking down barriers between Muslims and Christians, black and white" was a major purpose of the festival, Mahmoud explained. His call for music to promote harmony was greeted with loud applause. | Its director, Yusuf Mahmoud, addressed the cosmopolitan crowd that had come to hear musicians from Mali and Senegal, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Tanzania. "Breaking down barriers between Muslims and Christians, black and white" was a major purpose of the festival, Mahmoud explained. His call for music to promote harmony was greeted with loud applause. |
| But before the four-day festival had concluded earlier this month a Catholic priest had been murdered and a church has since been torched in what are just the latest examples of similar attacks on the holiday island. | But before the four-day festival had concluded earlier this month a Catholic priest had been murdered and a church has since been torched in what are just the latest examples of similar attacks on the holiday island. |
| On Sunday the Catholic bishop of Zanzibar, Augustine Shao, said: "People are afraid. We don't know what will happen next." He said that they had received warnings that until Muslim leaders arrested during disturbances in Zanzibar last year were released from jail and Zanzibar became independent from Tanzania, such killings of religious leaders would continue regularly. He said that even Muslim leaders who condemned the killings were now at risk of death. | On Sunday the Catholic bishop of Zanzibar, Augustine Shao, said: "People are afraid. We don't know what will happen next." He said that they had received warnings that until Muslim leaders arrested during disturbances in Zanzibar last year were released from jail and Zanzibar became independent from Tanzania, such killings of religious leaders would continue regularly. He said that even Muslim leaders who condemned the killings were now at risk of death. |
| Reports claim that some of the warnings have been signed "Muslim Renewal" and a weekly news magazine, the East African, suggested that there was a link between the violence and the al-Shabaab militant group. The president of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, has condemned the murder and called for the arrest of those responsible. | Reports claim that some of the warnings have been signed "Muslim Renewal" and a weekly news magazine, the East African, suggested that there was a link between the violence and the al-Shabaab militant group. The president of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, has condemned the murder and called for the arrest of those responsible. |
| Father Evarist Mushi, 55, was shot dead in the early hours of 17 February in Mtoni, near Stone Town. Two days later, a security guard at the Pool of Siloan church was attacked by three men and the building set on fire. It was the second such attack on the church and the 26th on religious institutions in recent years. Earlier in the month, in Buseresere in mainland Tanzania, a pastor from the Tanzanian Assembly of God was beheaded after violent disturbances over whether Christians should have the same rights as Muslims to slaughter animals for public consumption. | Father Evarist Mushi, 55, was shot dead in the early hours of 17 February in Mtoni, near Stone Town. Two days later, a security guard at the Pool of Siloan church was attacked by three men and the building set on fire. It was the second such attack on the church and the 26th on religious institutions in recent years. Earlier in the month, in Buseresere in mainland Tanzania, a pastor from the Tanzanian Assembly of God was beheaded after violent disturbances over whether Christians should have the same rights as Muslims to slaughter animals for public consumption. |
| "Religion is being used as a tool for political ends," retired Anglican bishop John Ramadhani said in his office beside the Anglican cathedral in Stone Town. Its foundation stone was laid in 1873, the year the notorious Zanzibar slave market, which adjoined the site, was finally closed. | "Religion is being used as a tool for political ends," retired Anglican bishop John Ramadhani said in his office beside the Anglican cathedral in Stone Town. Its foundation stone was laid in 1873, the year the notorious Zanzibar slave market, which adjoined the site, was finally closed. |
| Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim and dawn breaks to the sound of the call to prayer and cocks crowing. It is estimated that Christians make up only 5% of the island's population, with Hindus accounting for an even smaller percentage. The cathedral's stained glass windows have been broken in attacks and Ramadhani is concerned that the authorities have done little to offer protection. | Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim and dawn breaks to the sound of the call to prayer and cocks crowing. It is estimated that Christians make up only 5% of the island's population, with Hindus accounting for an even smaller percentage. The cathedral's stained glass windows have been broken in attacks and Ramadhani is concerned that the authorities have done little to offer protection. |
| "There has been harmony and toleration in the past," he said, "but I think there is perhaps a belief that Christians should not be here." | "There has been harmony and toleration in the past," he said, "but I think there is perhaps a belief that Christians should not be here." |
| In the police headquarters opposite Stone Town's forbidding prison walls, the deputy director of criminal investigations, Yusuf Ikembo, was adamant that the police were doing all they could. "The police are everywhere," he said. "Security is high. We have arrested nine people [in the murder inquiry] and they are now being interrogated." | In the police headquarters opposite Stone Town's forbidding prison walls, the deputy director of criminal investigations, Yusuf Ikembo, was adamant that the police were doing all they could. "The police are everywhere," he said. "Security is high. We have arrested nine people [in the murder inquiry] and they are now being interrogated." |
| In response to suggestions from some government ministers that the murder was linked to terrorism, he said it was too early to draw conclusions. Detectives from the Tanzanian mainland have arrived on the island to help in the investigation and the United States has also offered to assist. | In response to suggestions from some government ministers that the murder was linked to terrorism, he said it was too early to draw conclusions. Detectives from the Tanzanian mainland have arrived on the island to help in the investigation and the United States has also offered to assist. |
| Rumours about motives abound. Some blame outsiders or Islamists, while others link the attack to a desire in Zanzibar for independence from mainland Tanzania, to which it has been attached – sometimes uneasily – for nearly 50 years. Others blame the lack of jobs, which has left many young men alienated. | Rumours about motives abound. Some blame outsiders or Islamists, while others link the attack to a desire in Zanzibar for independence from mainland Tanzania, to which it has been attached – sometimes uneasily – for nearly 50 years. Others blame the lack of jobs, which has left many young men alienated. |
| One government minister, Anna Tibaijuka, is quoted in the Tanzanian paper the Citizen warning that the murders of the clerics could affect tourism, which represents a significant slice of the country's economy. "Nobody will come to Tanzania when we senselessly kill one another," she said. | One government minister, Anna Tibaijuka, is quoted in the Tanzanian paper the Citizen warning that the murders of the clerics could affect tourism, which represents a significant slice of the country's economy. "Nobody will come to Tanzania when we senselessly kill one another," she said. |
| Her views are echoed on the streets of Stone Town. "It could affect Zanzibar because some tourists will be scared to come here," said one tour guide, Octopus Pweza. He added that relations between Christians and Muslims were generally relaxed. "I have Christian friends myself and Muslims and Christians have been friendly here for a long time. We are all Zanzibaris." | Her views are echoed on the streets of Stone Town. "It could affect Zanzibar because some tourists will be scared to come here," said one tour guide, Octopus Pweza. He added that relations between Christians and Muslims were generally relaxed. "I have Christian friends myself and Muslims and Christians have been friendly here for a long time. We are all Zanzibaris." |
| The festival musicians, from singer Khaira Arby of Mali to rapper Comrade Fatso of Zimbabwe, made much of the desire for peace and tolerance in Africa. | The festival musicians, from singer Khaira Arby of Mali to rapper Comrade Fatso of Zimbabwe, made much of the desire for peace and tolerance in Africa. |
| And the mood on the streets remains relaxed, with tourists posing outside the home of the late Zanzibari singer Farrokh Bulsara, better known as Freddie Mercury of Queen – a cocktail named after him is available at the Mercury restaurant – or taking photos of the place where Dr David Livingstone stayed on the island. | And the mood on the streets remains relaxed, with tourists posing outside the home of the late Zanzibari singer Farrokh Bulsara, better known as Freddie Mercury of Queen – a cocktail named after him is available at the Mercury restaurant – or taking photos of the place where Dr David Livingstone stayed on the island. |
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