Enforcing a new law on standards for houses of worship authorities in Rwanda have conducted another round of inspections of churches and have closed down 70% of those they inspected, Baptist Global News (BGN) reports. Most churches targeted by the Rwandan government are smaller prayer houses affiliated with independent Pentecostal ministries.
Authorities in Christian-majority Rwanda have closed more than 4,000 small churches in the last month, on the grounds they did not comply with health and safety regulations, BBC News reports.
Paul Rusesabagina, portrayed in a film as a life-saving hero during the Rwandan genocide, has been convicted of terrorism by a court in Rwanda.
Rwanda deported an American pastor and missionary after he was arrested for allegedly disturbing the public order, according to a state-run newspaper.
The Rwanda Governance Board continues to close churches it says fail to meet requirements laid down at the beginning of the year. New requirements set in place for those congregations that want to continue ministry are also complicating efforts to comply. Many see the closures as part of an effort by the government to make its aggressive secular stance clear.