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A.C.N - Aid to the Church in Need Italian Office |
Religious Freedom in
the Majority Islamic Countries |
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Niger Population:
9,389,000
The population of Niger is made up of five different ethnic groups, the most numerous of which is that of the Hausa (52 per cent). The Tuareg people, although representing less than five per cent of the population, have always been in a state of endemic war with the central authority. Islam reached this country only in the 19th century, following the invasion by the Peul people, one of the ethnic groups of the country. Thus Islam is relatively young here and still impregnated with animism - so much so, indeed, that some Islamic states are trying to achieve a doctrinal purification of their religion through the establishment of cultural centres and universities. The present situation of Christians in Niger appears to be better than in many other countries where Islam is the predominant religion. Conversions take place from Islam to Christianity and there are friendly contacts between the two religious communities. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Church in Niger (January 19 1998), Sheikh Abubakar Hassim of Kiota sent a message of congratulations and friendship to Bishop Guy Romano of Niamey. However, the expansion of Islamist movements in Niger has led to sporadic episodes of intolerance and intimidation. On the evening of November 22 1994, for example, a group of Islamic militants invaded the Oumarou Ganda cultural centre, where a conference was about to be held on the topic of "Islam and family planning". They forced all the women present to leave and by means of threats and accusations broke up the meeting. |
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