Christians on the predominantly Muslim islands of Pemba and the Comoros archipelago faced another tense day Monday, December 8, amid fresh reports that believers have been beaten, detained and banished for their faith.

Christian news agency Compass Direct News quoted church leaders traveling to the region, off the east coast of Africa, as.saying they fear for the “the survival of Christianity on Pemba and the Comoros”, with fewer than 300 Christians in a combined population of 1.1 million people.

Leaving Islam for Christianity is reportedly one of the main reasons why Christians are increasingly persecuted, following the conversion in August of Sheikh Hijah Mohammed, who was leader of a key mosque in Chake-Chake, capital of Pemba.

Radical Muslims soon issued death threats against Sheikh Mohammed, who converted to Christianity last August.  An Assemblies of God Church in Pemba helped him disappear into hiding at an undisclosed location.

Persecution of Christians seems to be public policy. Travel documents of Christians who have converted from Islam are being seized. Police have broken up prayer meetings, confiscated Bibles, and expelled missionaries. Christians who are assaulted do not report attacks to police because, they say, that will only bring more trouble.

A Christian from Zanzibar who recently visited Comoros said it is a “horrifying environment for one to practice Christianity”. Authorities monitored his movements, intimidating him so much that he cut short his visit and returned home.

The island of Pemba belongs to Tanzania and lies north of Zanzibar close by the coast, while Cosmoros is comprised of three islands off the east coast of Africa between Mozambique and Madagascar. A map of the Comoros is posted at right.