Media ignoring Islamist persecution of Christians, says Nigerian Protestant leader

August 07, 2009

An Anglican prelate is decrying the world media’s lack of attention to the persecution of Christians during the recently suppressed Islamist uprising in Nigeria. “It is unfortunate that the mayhem unleashed on the Church is systematically downplayed in the media,” said Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi of Jos. “The first victim was the ecclesia, which was subjugated and sacrificed prior to any attack on the establishment, yet no report is pointing to Christians as the number one target before all others. We will continue to speak out.”

Twenty churches were destroyed during the uprising, which claimed 800 lives. Yusuf Mohammed, the leader of the uprising, personally executed male captives who refused to convert to Islam, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

 

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Further information:

• Nigeria - Christians lament a lack of international concern over Boko Haram bloodshed (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
• Nigeria: Thirteen-year-old forced to watch Pastor hacked to death in Boko Haram deadly violence (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
• Nigeria suppresses Islamist uprising; bishops back ‘law and order,’ education (CWN, Aug 3)