Posted on 06/13/2005 9:03:58 PM PDT by murphE
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.
and we just forgave their debt. We are suckers. I can't believe Bush sold us out to Bonos pipedream.
"I can't believe Bush sold us out to Bonos pipedream."
Well I love Bush, but I'm darned happy we get to change partners in 2008. His two greatest failures are his blind spots to the "Religion of Peace and Global Jihad" and the daily increasing threat of illegal immigrants from Mexico and central America. We are really getting the bottom of the barrel from Mexico, guatamala, el salvador and ecuador. At least the ecuadorians are basically peaceful, can't say the same for the other nations. And as for the Pakis, etc. who knows if they come here to flee Sharia or inflict Sharia.
I said it in '04 and I meant it. Bush in '04, somebody meaner in '08.
So he really isn't a pedophile like MJ but still gets away with it?
I voted for him twice also, but he's really been disappointing lately. (about a year)
"Chief Justice Thomas."
Yes, all for that after Nino's screw up of the other day. Don't really want him for Pres. either, he showed that facist streak quite clearly. Hey, and I can be a bit of a facist myself, but it's unAmerican I tell you.
Tancredo is the guy, he can make muck with this immigration stuff. I would definately give him my vote in the primary, however I live in NJ, so it's a moot point.
Bush is just another politician, and to me he's turning out to be the worst kind. The 'moderates' who try to please everyone and work both sides of the fence.
Two weeks before Bush forgave Africa the FORTY BILLION DOLLARS they owe to our government, he signed the law that made it extremely difficult for Americans to get out of debt, (the law severely restricts private citizens' rights to file for bankruptcy. The reason he gave was that he felt badly for the lending industry who have to cope with people who file for bankruptcy to get out of paying them back.....as if the Banking and loan industry aren't among the wealthiest corporations on earth).
And guess who will have to pick up the tab for President Bush's generosity towards African debt? Well you figure it out. The money loaned to Africa came from tax dollars, and the forty billion dollar debt will be compensated for by ...................?????
If the GOP doesn't wise up soon about illegal immigration, '08 will bring us the Hildabeast who will be much meaner ... just not to those we would like.
"'08 will bring us the Hildabeast who will be much meaner"
No doubt she'll try every trick in the book, and some that aren't in the book, but I'm not sure she'll succeed. I think many Americans will really balk at sending a spouse of a former pres. to the WH, esp. if she's bringing slick willy with her. I think Jeb Bush has a similar problem.
Freudian slip? ;-) No matter what the PC people say, this is war.
No, spell check error!
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