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| Africa: Subsaharan |
| Nigeria's war on Christians (WND) |
| 2005-06-12 |
| Islamic law brings death, suffering to non-Muslims More than 10,000 Christians have been killed since 1999, the year Islamic "Sharia law" was introduced in Nigeria, according to Voice of the Martyrs, a group that aids the persecuted church around the world. Nearly 1,000 homes and churches have been burned down by Muslim radicals — with a wink and a nod from a government that doesn't recognize the rights of non-Muslims. The war on Christians began in 1999 when Alhaji Ahmed Sani assumed the office of governor in Nigeria's Zamfara state. Just five months later, he introduced Sharia law. Soon 11 other northern Nigerian states, all with Muslim majorities, followed Zamfara's lead and implemented some form of the harsh Islamic legal code. Sharia is based on the Quran and Hadith, the Islamic sacred book and teachings. It imposes a strict code of conduct on the population. For example, if an individual is convicted of stealing, the punishment is amputation of his hand. In the case of adultery, the punishment is death by stoning. "If you go around villages, you will see people missing one hand or one foot," explained Rev. Obiora Ike. "Do you think that's the result of an illness? That is the result of Sharia Law." Christians in the country say the imposition of Sharia law has resulted in a wave of violence and attacks against them, their homes, churches and villages as the militants wage jihad, or holy war, against them. Sharia law permits violent attacks against non-Muslims and the killing of former Muslims who have converted to Christianity or other faiths. The destruction of churches and the prohibition of new church constructions are considered legitimate actions. Recently, before a large crowd, the Zamfara state government recently held a five-year anniversary to celebrate the implementation of Sharia. Governor Ahmad Sani recalled why Sharia was introduced into the state: to satisfy the desire of the people for governance by the "laws of Allah 
to cleanse society of social and moral vices like alcoholism, gambling, theft, armed robbery, prostitution, bribery, corruption and deceit." Muslim zealots are being financed by Saudis who want to Islamicize the entire African continent. The implementation of Sharia has been blamed for the vast violence and deaths occurring not just in Zamfara state, where it was first implemented, but in other states as well. Earlier this year Muslim militants announced a death sentence on five Christian students expelled from Abubaker Tafawa Balewa University and the Federal Polytechnic in state of Bauchi, in November 2004, for sharing the gospel with Muslim students. Muslims in the schools complained that the Christian students blasphemed the prophet Mohammed. The families of two of the students, Hanatu Haruna Alkali and Abraham Adamu Misal, were attacked Jan. 26, when militants went to their family homes located in the state of Gombe, in northern Nigeria, with the intent to kill them. Reportedly, Muslim militants have attacked Hanatu's family's house several times, and the family fears for their lives. Rev. Oludare Aliu, national coordinator of the students' ministry of the Evangelical Church of West Africa, said: "Muslim militants went to Gombe to 
kill Hanatu, but fortunately, she was not at home at the time. The family was held at gunpoint. Hanatu's father happens to be a former military officer. He wrestled with the militants and was able to disarm one of them who had a gun. While he was fighting them, one of the militants stabbed Hanatu's mother with a knife. She has been treated for the wounds." Hanatu is now in hiding. Militants also attacked Abraham Adamu Misal's family. He escaped and is in hiding. On March 17, in the Nigerian state of Benue, a Christian student, Ngumalen Atser, was raped and poisoned to death by two Muslim men. This incident escalated tension between Muslims and Christians, which led to Muslim militants attacking the villages of Chilakera and Imbufu April 10. Seventeen people, mostly Christians, died. According to a Compass Direct report on this situation, "Community leaders in Nigeria — both Muslim and Christian — blame the escalating violence on social tensions produced by the implementation of Islamic law in a dozen northern states of Nigeria." The meeting place of Word of Faith Ministries in the state of Kaduna was burned to the ground that same day — April 10, for the fourth time in five years. However, members of the church have rebuilt every time. No arrests have been made in connection to the arson. |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #5 hmmmm, dunno DON. Islam pays a lot of lip service to peace but the reality of it just doesn't live up. Of course, all of the major religions have had their violent spells - some longer than others. But with Islam, for its entire existence, it has brought suffering, enslavement and death. Does one blame the religion or its patrons? I've wrestled with that one....and in the end is there a difference? Meantime....the killing goes on. The best I can come up with is that we need to eradicate this disease. Do it with a cold, dispassionate focus as one deals with ants in the kitchen. And, while we are doing it, proclaim loud and clear we are doing it because Shari'a goes against the grain of humanity. Provacitive, yes but that helps clarify where one stands. That's jut my "If I were King of the World" take. But then, as the name implies, I am. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2005-06-12 19:39 |
| #4 Stupid super-religious psychos. Does anybody remember what the JEwish, or Muslim, or Christian, or Catholic, beliefs are all about? Peace. Quit killing, start building. 'course, when's that ever gonna happen? |
| Posted by: DON KING 2005-06-12 17:17 |
| #3 "Muslim zealots are being financed by Saudis..." Saudi business as usual. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-06-12 15:55 |
| #2 Ima kinda pissed at gawd too, I haven't won the lottery yet. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-12 15:14 |
| #1 Just more pathetic examples of disaffected peoples cloaking themselves in a religion to validate the oppression and homicide of others not like them... whether its Isalami or Christun or Jewdaism or Hindoo or whatever... all great flavors of spiritual potential and worship of our creator, but always perverted by the perverts sent by Satan himself and hoisted high by the blind and ignorant... not to mention the media too. |
| Posted by: Shomble Shoger7533 2005-06-12 14:47 |