The country of Tanzania was formed through the union of Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar in 1964 after independence from the British. Islam is the religion of 99 percent of the people on Zanzibar.
The constitution states, "Without
jeopardizing the laws applicable in the Union Republic, promotion of religion, worship and
evangelization will
be free and matters of personal voluntary choice, and activities pertaining to the administration of religions
will be outside the jurisdiction of the State." The government generally respects this right. Missionaries
are allowed to enter the country freely to proselytize, and citizens are allowed to go abroad for pilgrimages and
other religious practices.
Religious groups must register with the government and must apply for an
exemption certificate if they wish to import goods duty-free. Religious
organizations are prohibited from engaging in political campaigns, and political
candidates are prohibited from campaigning in churches or mosques or from using
language intending to promote religious animosity for political purposes.
There is some tension between Muslims and Christians and between Muslim fundamentalists and moderate Muslims. Muslims complain of discrimination in employment and education. Islamic fundamentalists label the government a Christian government and criticize moderate Muslims who cooperate with the government and oppose Islamicist reforms.
2003 U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Tanzania
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