SOUTHERN PROVINCE

RUHANGO—The month of Ramadan has yielded many fruits for the small Moslem population in Rwanda, as many in the Adventist-heavy area of Gitwe have taken up Islam.

Many have converted during Islamic preaching sessions that took place on Monday September 17, attended by hundreds of students and local residents at the Gitwe trading centre 
The occasion also saw Kigali-based Muslims battle for private space with Gitwe pastors.

The latter, led by Pastor Ntabana, accused the Islamic faithful for interfering with private space and asked Muslims to keep distance.

"Over 40 teenagers including adults have decided to become Muslims,” Sheikh Ahmed Ndahimana said.

"We shall have to teach the devoted faithful for three months basing on the levels of education and there is a program of increasing the numbers of Muslims in the area and need to build a new mosque.”

Ndahimana added that the need to preach the Islam comes as a crucial need to build unity and reconciliation among Rwandans and as a follow up of the President’s request for Muslims to preach a gospel of unity.

The numbers of residents who showed interest in Islam was larger than many expected and Ndahimana called it a "revolution of faith” as many youths battled to listen to the Koran teachings.

Like many converted Christians who turned to Islam for various reasons; Ezra Habimana, 16, explains that it has much to do with personal power and choices.

"I have loved Islam because of the good sermons and I can identify with this new faith compared to the old Christian style which I have not chosen for myself,” he said.

Gitwe is home to the largest number of 7th Day Adventists and is a historical capital of Adventists in Rwanda.

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