CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Louis Kalonji, Congo RDC, September 1999
THEME = TENSION
The scandal of the notebook of Koranic writings
Congo RDC is only just emerging from a catastrophic war situation and now has to face up to a serious threat of religious warfare, which could end by breaking into open conflict if care isn't taken. This kind of conflict will be difficult to control, keeping in mind the complexity of the tense relations existing between the country's various religious sects.
The present "Affair" opposing the Rev. Kutino Fernando against the Muslim community, could be the spark which sets everything alight. It's also known in Kinshasa as: "The scandal of the notebook of Koranic writings". What's been happening?
On Sunday 12 September, Rev Fernando Kutino, leader of a religious sect, the "Army of Victory" (one of a number of independent religious sects), tore up and burnt, during programs on his radio and television channels, a notebook containing writings he described as "satanic". He'd been given this notebook by a young man (aged 21) who wanted to witness to the fact he'd reconverted to the sect.
The Muslims called Rev. Kutino's action "blasphemous". According to them, the writings he'd destroyed were Surahs (chapters and verses from the Koran), and so the notebook in question had the same special significance as the Koran. The Muslims were furious and on 17 September decided to demonstrate peacefully against Kutino and his nefarious deed. They were very numerous in Kinshasa city-centre; their banners carried such slogans as "death to Kutino". As this was an unauthorised demonstration, the police took immediate action and dispersed the demonstrators, although some extremists managed to break through the police barriers. It should be recalled that the evening before the demonstration, the Muslims' legal representative had advised his coreligionists not to demonstrate, because permission hadn't been given. In a letter addressed to Congo's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Yerodia Abdoulaye Ndombasi, who is himself a Muslim, Iran's ambassador in Congo RDC condemned Rev. Kutino's action. The ambassador was able to pressurise the local powers-that-be into suspending the broadcasting of Kutino's religious programme "Message of Life". On 18 September, both Rev. Kutino and the young man who had originally caused all the bother, were arrested and detained in Makala Central Prison. Kutino's adherents then descended upon the office of the examining magistrate in charge of the case, to voice their displeasure at what had happened. Matters are now coming to a head between the Muslims and Rev. Kutino's supporters.
From his cell, the Army of Victory's leader continues to protest that he's done nothing wrong to merit such treatment. He says all he did was to tear up and burn a notebook - not the Koran. He calls on all Christians in Congo to be on their guard: "The Anti-Christ will be among us soon". The young man arrested with Kutino says: "I prefer to die rather than bear false witness against my pastor".
It's not the first time Rev. Kutino has been arrested. It happened previously when he was suspected of having a large stockpile of arms. He seems to be rich and the rumour's going around that he's bought an aeroplane.
This particular case brings to light the tense situation existing between the many religious groups in Congo. Muslims have reacted violently against the provocations and the invectives of some of the sects; the Catholic Church, on the other hand, has always shown a spirit of tolerance. But, in the long run, the faithful are getting very uneasy.
Congo has legislation governing the activities of religious groups, but it is more often than not conveniently ignored. This could lead the country into religious warfare which would be both serious and difficult to control.
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