Islamophobia: it’s a global problem. “Catholic priest doused with acid in latest attack in Zanzibar,” by Josie Ensor for the Telegraph, September 13 (thanks to all who sent this in):
A Catholic priest has been doused with acid in Zanzibar, a month after a similar attack on two British teenagers on the predominately Muslim island.
The elderly priest, Amselmo Mwangamba, was burned by the acid on his face, chest and arms, as he walked on the streets of Stone Town, the historical centre of the capital.
“He had just left the Internet cafe, but a few minutes later he came back screaming and begging for help,” said Rukia Abbasi, who was working at the cafe. “We gave him water and rushed him to hospital.”
Doctors said on Friday they were treating the cleric for the burns.
Mkadam Khamis, a spokesman for the city’s police, called the attack “another sad story”, and said his forces were investigating.
Last month, two young British women were attacked with acid thrown by men on a motorcycle, in an attack described by officials as “a shame on the people of Zanzibar”.
The teenagers, who were on a month-long break volunteering for a charity when two men on a moped threw the substance over them, suffered injuries to their faces, hands, legs, backs, necks and chests.
The two were flown back to the UK, where they received treatment for burns and were given skin grafts.
A number of people were questioned over the attack but no one has yet been charged.
Tensions between the majority Muslim population and Christians – some three percent of the 1.2 million people on the islands – have been on the increase in recent years, as well as on mainland Tanzania….