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New Muslim leader in Angola wants to unite the community and see Islam legalized

The new president of the Islamic Council of Angola (Consia) wants to unite Muslims in Angola and see Islam recognized as a religion so that he can build schools, hospitals, and orphanages for Muslims and others.

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Sheikh Altino da Conceição Miguel Umar, former coordinator of the Islamic Community of Angola, told Lusa Agency that his performance ahead of Consia has two focuses: "The reconciliation, unification and union among all Muslims in Angola" and "the recognition of Islam" in the country.

Despite this lack of recognition, Muslims have a peaceful coexistence with the Christian majority, which in the past was worse, even being partners of the Angolan State in some social works.

But Altino Umar wants to be able to do more, not only for the Muslims - estimated at 800,000, among Angolans and other nationalities - but for the entire population.

Despite the fact that coexistence between peoples is "good" and of "peace," the Islamic communities face some barriers in their daily lives, the result of this lack of recognition by the Angolan authorities.

And exemplified with the difficulty in ordering certain products, or in providing the coming of an imam to preach to the Angolan Muslims, which is not possible because there is no missionary visa.

Other projects that the Muslims in Angola would like to build are a school, an Islamic hospital, and an orphan center, but for the time being impossible due to the lack of a legal entity.

Altino Umar gives the example of his own family, in which he is the only Muslim, to show how peaceful the coexistence between Muslims and Christians is, the latter being the majority in Angola.

"Angola is a secular state, with religion separate from the state," he said, noting that in this African country "there is no law that favors this or that religion.

And religious activities, such as prayers throughout the day, and important dates for Muslims, are easily respected in Angola, according to the new president of Consia.

For the sheik, one of the areas in which Muslims in Angola have demonstrated work is in the construction of mosques, of which there are already more than a hundred, particularly in the provinces of Luanda and Lunda Norte.

Still, he said that "the creation of mosques is not the top priority, but hospitals, schools and social institutions for the good of Muslims and others.

Regarding the pandemic of covid-19, he praised the charity practiced by Muslims for those who have proved to be most in need, particularly in the distribution of goods and protective material.

"Charity is a recommended, if not mandatory, activity in Islam," he declared.

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