Bissau, 26 March, 2024 / 8:45 pm (ACI Africa).
Religious leaders in Guinea Bissau have called for the respect of “fundamental rights” amid several cases of attacks on places of worship of traditional religions and evangelical churches.
In a Thursday, March 21 statement, the leaders of the National Islamic Council, the Catholic Dioceses of Bissau and Bafatá, the National Union of Imams, the National Council of Evangelical Churches of Guinea-Bissau and Traditional Religion condemned what they consider “sad episodes.”
“Recently, a sad and unprecedented, faceless campaign was unleashed in Bissau to set fire to the sacred places of traditional religions, which, in response, led to the violation, followed by arson, of the doors of the Evangelical Church of Mindará. These acts occur without any apparent reason to justify them,” the religious leaders said.
They added, “We condemn all acts of religious intolerance in the country and to call for their immediate end.”
“We urge the people of Guinea-Bissau to commit themselves to preserving peace and national unity, as well as to respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, including religious freedom,” the religious leaders said in the statement that was read by Fr. Augusto Mutna Tamba.
