"Islam is not recognized in Angola, we are still not being believed, there are about 90 Christian churches in Angola, so, from the point of view of fundamental rights, regarding freedom of belief and religion, Angola only recognizes Christianity", told Lusa the general secretary of Consia, David Já.
According to the official, the recognition of Islam in Angola, whose presence in the country has lasted for over 50 years, continues "without any response" from the authorities.
"There has been no response [from the authorities] regarding Islam, we have been waiting, we are going to believe that in principle the State is a good person and, then, we are going to wait anxiously", he stressed.
The Muslim leader noted that Angola currently has 176 mosques spread across the country's 18 provinces and stressed that Angola "is the only African country" where Islam is not recognized.
"Angola is the only country in Africa where Islam is not recognized, when even Islam is in every corner of the world", he maintained.
"We are hopeful that the [Angolan] State will come to believe in the Islamic religion, Angola just needs to believe it, because it is an international custom, we have been in Angola for over 50 years", he said.
David Já also criticized what he calls "Islamic xenophobia", considering that Muslims are also citizens with rights and duties.
The former Minister of Culture, Carolina Cerqueira, currently president of parliament, announced in January 2019, during the discussion on the specialty of the Law on Freedom of Religion, Belief and Worship that the Government "follows the evolution of Islam in the country" and that he would "soon take a stand".
