Togo

       

     
 

1. 1100 people embraced Islam in Togo
 [posted in islamicnews.org.sa]

As many as 1100 people embraced Islam in Togo, thanks to the activities of the office of the Islamic propagation society in the country. The entire people of some 11 villages in the African country have converted to Islam since the opening of the office, according to a statement of the society.

Recently, people of two villages in the country embraced Islam as a result of continuous Da'awa works carried out by the members of the society. These included 300 people in one village and 800 in the second village, and they included hundreds of women and children also. They pronounced Shahada in the presence of the officials of the society.

2.  U.S. Department of State, Annual Report on International Religious Freedom

The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001. Please see www.state.gov for material released since President George W. Bush took office on that date. This site is not updated so external links may no longer function. Contact us with any questions about finding information.

The Government establishes requirements for recognition of religious organizations outside the three main faiths-Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. 

   
 

3.Churches See Islam as the Growing Threat in Togo  [posted in strategicnetwork.org]
Christians in the small, West African country of Togo face a subtle but growing threat from Islam.

"The only way people can come to Christ in many areas of our country is if they leave their surroundings and abandon their larger family. I am convinced that there are many Christians who are unable to declare themselves Christians openly for fear of persecution," said the Rev. Mitre Djakouti, president of the Assemblies of God in Togo.

"This especially applies to Sokode and the areas of mid and northern Togo. I know of four men and four women who keep their Bibles hidden and read them when no one else is around. They told me that since they have been reading the Bible, they have peace in their hearts," he said.

4.  Eleven priests of the Republic of Togo embrace Islam  [published in Islamic-call.net]
Eleven priests from various regions of the Republic of Togo have recently proclaimed their Islam. They pronounced the testimonies of faith in a gathering which was organized by WICS Doat's in Togo.

WICS Doat's have organized a number of meetings for the rightly guided priests in their respected localities, which included studies and lectures relating to the Islamic fundamentals of faith, as well as worships and their etiquettes. They were also given a complete explanation on humanitarian values that was sent with the message of Islam.

The meetings also included group discussions, in which WICS Doat's answered their questions regarding the true religion of Islam.

   
 

5.Islam in Togo  
[By WIKIPEDIA]
 
Muslims in Togo represent between 13.7 and 55% of the national population. Islam came to Togo about the same time as it did much of West Africa.

History

Islam was first introduced into West Africa south of the Sahara, across the salt and gold trade routes. Islamicized Berber and Tuareg merchants traveled the trans-Saharan trade routes. As time passed, Muslim clerics and scholars — teaching their beliefs and setting up places of worship along the routes — accompanied traders on their journeys. The Hausa and the Fulani, a traditionally nomadic group, traveled all over West Africa, taking their Muslim beliefs to places such as present-day Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.  

 

6.  Kadhafi says Islam not propagated by force  
[published in republicoftogo.com]
The Libyan leader Mouammar Kadhafi said on Saturday that "th e victory" of Islam in Togo and its peaceful propagation showed that the religio n was not spread through the sword and wars as claimed.

Speaking in the Togolese city of Kara he said people should embrace Islam volunt arily.

On behalf of the World Association of the Islamic Call (AMAI) and the World Isla mic Popular Commandment, the Libyan leader in the presence of the Togolese Presi d ent Faure Gnassingbe pledged his total support for the people of Togo.

The director of the Islamic Centre of Sokode, Makou Mohamed Kassem commended the Libyan leader for his support for Muslims in the West African country.

   
 

7. Togo community
  [profile in Australia]

Togo is a small country in West Africa. After gaining independence from France in 1960, Togo endured seven years of political turmoil culminating in a military coup which brought Gnassingbé Eyadéma to power. Eyadéma set up and maintained what was effectively a one party state backed by the army. Limited democratic reforms were introduced in the 1990s but Eyadéma clung to power in the midst of accusations of political violence and vote rigging. He ruled until his death in 2005 after which his son, Faure Gnassingbé, was installed as leader in defiance of constitutional procedures. After protests and pressure both at home and abroad, Gnassingbé held elections in April 2005. The poll was marred by accusations of electoral irregularities, and violence followed Gnassingbé’s win

 

8.  Togo: Snippet on Muslims
 [By International Islamic News Agency (IINA)]
Islamic Daawa is on the increase in the republic of Togo, in that a number of Islamic organizations have sprung up in this country, in addition to the fact that the country has joined the of the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). One of the largest such organizations is the Federation of Togo Muslims, a non-political organ, concerned only with the welfare of the Muslims in the country, and its membership is open to all Muslims.

Among the Federation’s objectives are to spread peace, justice, love and freedom, and to help the Muslims live a descent life and to co-exist with followers of other faiths. It also aims at spreading the Message of Islam and the Islamic culture and education.