Radical Muslims continue violence in Nigeria
December 30, 2010
The Islamist group Boko Haram, which is thought to be responsible for Christmas Eve attacks on two Nigerian Protestant churches, is also responsible for the killing of three people at a hospital in the northeastern city of Maiduguri on December 28, according to police.
Founded in Maiduguri in 2002, Boko Haram (the words mean “Western or non-Islamic education is a sin”) seeks the imposition of sharia in Nigeria. Boko Haram’s late founder, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, told the BBC in 2009 that
there are prominent Islamic preachers who have seen and understood that the present Western-style education is mixed with issues that run contrary to our beliefs in Islam. Like rain. We believe it is a creation of God rather than an evaporation caused by the sun that condenses and becomes rain. Like saying the world is a sphere. If it runs contrary to the teachings of Allah, we reject it.
15% of the nation’s 146.5 million people are Catholic, according to Vatican statistics. An estimated 50% are Muslim, 25% are Protestant, and 10% retain indigenous beliefs. Maiduguri is heavily Muslim: the territory covered by the Diocese of Maiduguri is only 2% Catholic.
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Further information:
- In Nigeria, a re-emergent threat of violent Islam (Vatican Radio)
- Nigeria: Political Rally Is Bombed (Reuters)
- No priests killed during clashes at Christmas in Nigeria (Fides)
- Nigeria: 38 dead in church attacks, bombings (CWN, 12/27)
- Boko Haram (Wikipedia)
- Maiduguri (Wikipedia)
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Posted by: Justin8110 -
Dec. 30, 2010 4:28 PM ET USA
Islam is violent and radical, period, close the book. The Koran explicitly calls on the followers of Mohammed to kill and enslave non Muslims and "make them pay tribute" and makes it clear that Muslims are not to be friends with Jews or Christians. I don't quite understand why people try to make the distinction between so called "moderate" Islam and "radical" Islam. While not all Muslims are violent, Islam itself certianly always was, always has been and probably always will be. Read the Koran.
