This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43413645
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rwanda bans Kigali mosques from using loudspeakers | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rwanda has banned mosques in the capital, Kigali, from using loudspeakers during the call to prayer. | Rwanda has banned mosques in the capital, Kigali, from using loudspeakers during the call to prayer. |
| They say the calls, made five times a day, have been disturbing residents of the Nyarugenge district, home to the capital's biggest mosques. | They say the calls, made five times a day, have been disturbing residents of the Nyarugenge district, home to the capital's biggest mosques. |
| But an official from a Muslim association criticised it, saying they could instead keep the volume down. | But an official from a Muslim association criticised it, saying they could instead keep the volume down. |
| Last month, around 700 churches were closed for not complying with building regulations and noise pollution. | Last month, around 700 churches were closed for not complying with building regulations and noise pollution. |
| The majority of Rwandans are Christian. Muslims make up around 5% of the population. | The majority of Rwandans are Christian. Muslims make up around 5% of the population. |
| The government says the Muslim community has complied with the ban. | The government says the Muslim community has complied with the ban. |
| "I have found that they have begun to respect it and it has not stopped their followers from going to pray according to their praying time," Havuguziga Charles, a local official from Nyarugenge told the BBC's Great Lakes service. | "I have found that they have begun to respect it and it has not stopped their followers from going to pray according to their praying time," Havuguziga Charles, a local official from Nyarugenge told the BBC's Great Lakes service. |
| This comes as the government continues its clampdown on substandard churches across the East African country. | This comes as the government continues its clampdown on substandard churches across the East African country. |
| Most of them were small Pentecostal churches, and one mosque was also closed. | Most of them were small Pentecostal churches, and one mosque was also closed. |
| The government says the reason is that some preachers "deceive their congregation with misleading sermons", AFP reports. | The government says the reason is that some preachers "deceive their congregation with misleading sermons", AFP reports. |
| But some preachers have accused the government of trying to control their message to congregants in a country accused by human rights groups of stifling free speech. | But some preachers have accused the government of trying to control their message to congregants in a country accused by human rights groups of stifling free speech. |