Rwanda Government has closed down about 700 churches for failing to comply with building regulations and for noise pollution.
Most of them are small Pentecostal churches and one mosque was also
closed. A government official told the BBC that some of the more than
700 buildings shut down have already reopened after they were approved by
inspectors.
Government official Justus Kangwagye told the BBC's Focus on Africa
programme that they simply required the churches to meet "modest
standards".
According to new regulations, all preachers must have had theological
training before opening a church. Pentecostal churches, often run by
charismatic preachers claiming to be able to perform miracles, have
grown rapidly in many parts of Africa in recent years. Some are
massive, attracting thousands of worshippers each Sunday, but others
consist of tiny structures built without planning permission and church
leaders have at times been criticised for using loud public address
systems to attract worshippers.
Some church premises exposed worshippers to unnecessary risks and
could "cause danger to those worshipping," Mr Kangwagye told the Rwandan
New Times newspaper. The reported crackdown is being carried out by
the local authorities with the support of the Rwanda Governance Board,
according to the New Times.
Some 700 churches were thought to be operating illegally, the Rwanda
Governance Board said in a recent statement. The vast majority of
Rwandans are Christians but many also follow traditional practices.
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