Tanzania: A demonstration held by the "Balukta "Muslim group in early 1999 in Dar-es-Salaam at Kinodoni Garden public park and in mid-July 1999; whether the authorities intervened; whether it was violent; and whether members of this group were armed
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 7 February 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TZA33728.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tanzania: A demonstration held by the "Balukta "Muslim group in early 1999 in Dar-es-Salaam at Kinodoni Garden public park and in mid-July 1999; whether the authorities intervened; whether it was violent; and whether members of this group were armed, 7 February 2000, TZA33728.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad7f1c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
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No reports on a demonstration held by the Balukta Muslim group in early 1999 in Dar-es-Salaam at Kinodoni Garden public park, and in mid-July could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
According to Africa Research Bulletin, Balukta or the Council for the Propagation of the Koran, was banned on 28 April 1993 following tension between the Tanzanian authorities and members of Balukta (May 1993, 11020).
Although there were riots at Mwembechi mosque in Kindondoni District, Dar-es-Salaam in 1998, they were not organized by Balukta but another religious group, the Committee for Muslims' Rights (The Guardian website 6 May 1999).
According to the Guardian's Website, Tanzania's vice- president, Dr. Omar Ali Huma, reportedly outlawed the Committee for Muslim's Rights. The committee was reportedly led by Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda, "who is wanted in connection with last year's Mwembechi mosque riots, and has been operating underground at the Mtambani mosque in Kinondoni District, Dar-es-Salaam, to disseminate anti-government propaganda" (ibid.). The Sheik had allegedly been "urging Muslims to emancipate themselves from the slavery of injustice allegedly by the government and ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Africa Research Bulletin:Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. May 1999. "Muslim Group Banned."
The Guardian Website [Dar-es-Salaam]. 6 May 1999. "Tanziana: Vice-President Bans Muslims Rights Body, Castigates Opposition Leader." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 7 May 1999/NEXIS)[Accessed: 7 February 2000)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. 1999.
Country reports for 1998 1999.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 1999.
Keesing's
Internet sites including:
Africa News organization.
World News Connection (WNC)
Search engines including:
Metacrawler