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KIGALI, Rwanda – More than 4,000 churches in Rwanda were closed last month for failing to comply with health and safety regulations, including poor soundproofing.
Most affected are small Pentecostal churches and some mosques, some of which are located in caves or on river banks.
“This is not done to stop people from praying but to ensure the safety and tranquility of worshippers,” Local Government Minister Jean-Claude Musabimana told state media.
It is the first major crackdown since laws were introduced five years ago to regulate the proliferation of places of worship.
The regulations require them to carry out their work in an organized manner and in a safe environment, and prohibit them from using noisy public address systems.
The legislation also required all missionaries to receive theological training before opening a church.
When the law was passed in 2018, approximately 700 churches were initially closed.
At the time, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the country did not need to build too many houses of worship, arguing that only more developed economies with the capacity to sustain them were suitable for building so many houses of worship.
Kagame, who just won a fourth term with 99 percent of the vote, rules over a tightly controlled society where critics say he has little freedom of expression.
The operation against the church was carried out by local city authorities in collaboration with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).
Authorities said they were taking a tough stance because churches had five years to come into full compliance.
“The government has taken a stand against the proliferation of religious activities in religious places. We still see dilapidated conditions and unhygienic conditions,” RGB head Usta Kayitesi told the New Times news website.
Musabimana said some of the closed churches were operating in tents, which put believers at risk.
According to Igihe External, a private Kinyarwanda-language news website, 4,223 places of worship have been closed so far, 427 of which are in caves.
The vast majority of Rwandans are Christian, but many follow traditional customs.
Pentecostal churches, often run by charismatic preachers who claim to be able to work miracles, have grown rapidly in many parts of Africa in recent years.
Some churches are huge, attracting thousands of worshippers every Sunday, but others are small buildings built without planning permission.
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