Muslim-Christian tensions are increasing because radical Muslims are using “comparative preaching” to denigrate Christianity in what observers feel is a deliberate attempt to incite religious fervor in this roughly 50-50 Muslim-Christian country. “Comparative preaching,” a style in which the preacher holds the Bible in one hand and the Koran in the other and criticizes Christianity in favor of Islam, caused a riot in Mwanza in September that was broken up by security forces using tear gas and batons. The preaching practice was unofficially banned in 1998 following a mosque riot, but appears to be returning. Some Muslim leaders have urged each religion to respect the other in the wake of these incidents.
