The African nation of Angola has become the first country in the world to entirely ban Islam. Angolan Minister of Culture Rosa Cruz e Silva stated that Islam is contradictory to the customs of Angola culture, and so it cannot exist in the Christian nation.

The process of legalization of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human rights, Silva told reporters. Their mosques would be closed until further notice. All of the more than 80 mosques in Angola are set to be destroyed.

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos called the move the final end of Islamic influence in our country. The Angolan government has fully backed the decision, saying that Islam is not a religion, but a sect.

Muslims around the world are infuriated by Angola’s decision. “I can’t believe that any government would be stupid enough to actually go down this route,” said Masoud Shajareh from the Islamic Human Rights Commission.

According to American News, Angola has a population of approximately 16 million, most of whom are Christians. The majority of the small Muslim population has migrated to the country from West Africa and Lebanon.