THE leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, has left behind a trail of anger and bitterness after urging Sudan's non-Muslim minority to refrain from consuming alcohol, eating pork and smoking cigarettes to avoid hurting Muslim sentiments. Farrakhan, who visited Sudan between January 15 and January 17, also called on the country's non-Muslim population to embrace Islam.
Religion is an emotive issue in the Sudan.
Reacting to Farrakhan's outburst, an enraged Adam Habob, an elder from the south, who although is a Muslim, says his ethnic group, the Maban, eat pork. No Muslim can claim he or she knows better than the others. If our culture tells us to eat pork or drink alcohol, it is up to us. Reverend Philiph Gaboush, an outspoken clergy-turned politician, says Farrakhan's preaching at the University of Khartoum Mosque last Friday has only widened the gap between the Muslims and Christians and Arabs and Africans in Sudan. Farrakhan should take another look at the world history.