Again! 10 Christians slaughtered over alleged Muhammad cartoon

[Logan13]

I just don't understand why we can't negotiate with such level headed people.......
Again! 10 Christians slaughtered over alleged Muhammad cartoon
61 injured, 9 churches burned, hundreds displaced after rumored 'insult' to Islam
worldnetdaily
Rampaging Muslims have killed 10 Christians, injured 61 others, destroyed nine churches and displaced more than 500 people in northern Nigeria, according to eyewitnesses – all because Muslim high school students claimed a Christian student had drawn a cartoon of Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, on the wall of the school’s mosque.

The rampage occurred Sept. 28 in the town of Tudun Wada Dankadai, in Nigeria's northern state of Kano.

According to Compass Direct News, which specializes in reporting on Christian persecution worldwide, there are 1,500 students at the high school, called Government College-Tudun Wada Dankadai, of which only 14 are Christians, and only seven of those actually live on campus. The Christian students at the school insist no one ever saw the alleged cartoon, and furthermore that no one in the tiny minority group of Christians would have dared such a feat, especially during Ramadan.

"How can we take such a risk when we know that we are a minority and cannot stand [against] them?" Christian student Shehu Bawa told Compass. "This is a lie created to have a reason to attack us."

Eighteen-year-old student Iliya Adamu told Compass he was getting ready to go to class when a group of Muslim students stormed into his dorm and began to beat him.

I was surprised that they were beating me without telling what I did," Adamu said. "I asked to know what was happening, and they claimed that one Christian student had gone to their mosque to draw a cartoon of Muhammad. In spite of my denying the act, they kept beating me."

Seeing the Muslim mob beating a Christian classmate named Sule La’azaru, Adamu ran to the principal's office for refuge, soon to be joined by the remaining Christian students there, according to the report.

Despite the attempts by the Muslim teachers to stop the rampage, Muslim students began throwing stones at the Christian students through the window of the principal's office, wounding student Ayuba Wada in the head.

"I was inside the office of our principal, with the others, when suddenly the Muslim students began throwing stones at us," Wada told Compass. "It was through this way that my head was broken. I was bleeding, and no help came as the situation became more riotous."

Eventually, the rampaging Muslim students broke into the principal's office, but the principal's arrival saved Wada's life, while the other Christians holed up there managed to escape the mob.

One of the Christian students, Shehu Bawa, told Compass his arrival on campus that morning was punctuated by shouts of "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Great) "all over the school." In fact, he said, "The Muslim students were now attacking every Christian student on sight. Four of us ran into the office of the vice principal, but when it was finally broken into by the Muslim students, we ran out and escaped."

What about the alleged cartoon of Muhammad, rumors of which instigated the attacks?

"We suspect that either one of the Muslim students in the school did this to create an excuse for us to be attacked, or that a Muslim fanatic from the town might have done this to spark off a fight among Muslims and Christians," said Bawa. "How could we have done this when Muslim students are always around the mosque day and night because of the Ramadan?"

The rampage spreads far and wide

After attacking the few Christian students in their school, the rampaging Muslim students poured into the streets of Tudun Wada, joined now by other Muslims. For the next four hours, reports Compass, the growing mob burned down Christian churches, vandalized Christian property and murdered innocents.

Among the churches burned were: St. Mary’s Catholic Church; St. George’s Anglican Church; Evangelical Church of West Africa; Assemblies of God Church; First Baptist Church; a Pentecostal church called the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church; an African independent church, the Cherubim and Seraphim Church; and two other Pentecostal churches, The Chosen Bible Church and Deeper Life Bible Church.

The 10 Christians murdered included: Augustine Odoh and his younger brother Cosmos Odoh, both members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Another Catholic, Joseph Eze, was also killed. When Compass filed its initial report, the corpses of the three Catholics were lying at the City Hospital in Kano city. Seven other Christians murdered were buried in a common grave Wednesday, but government workers did not allow relatives or church leaders to identify the corpses.

The dozens of injured are being treated at the Assumpta Clinic, Nomansland in Sabon Gari area of Kano city.

According to Musa Ahmadu Haruna, the priest of St. George’s Anglican Church, Tudun Wada Dankadai, whose church was burned, no Christian student in the school could have drawn an image of Muhammad.

"None of these students is capable of drawing a cartoon on a mosque," he told Compass Direct. "That is a frame-up to find a reason to attack us."

Another pastor, Rabiu Danbawa of the Evangelical Church of West Africa, said that upon hearing of the waves of attacks on Christians, he moved toward the town's center to see for himself what was transpiring.

"I stood as they set fire on our churches one by one," he told Compas Direct. "There was nothing I could do," he said, adding, "I did not know the fate of my wife and my children." When he went to the local police station for help, Danbawa found the police turning away Christians who had run there to escape the attack. "We were told to leave, as our safety could not be guaranteed," he said, in tears, according to Compass Direct. "Women and children all scampered to the bush, only to be attacked by the Muslims who had already hid themselves in the bush awaiting their Christian prey."

It wasn't until several days later that Danbawa found his wife and children safe.

Accoroding to reports from Compass, Danbawa and his family are now refugees in Dogon Kawo village, along with other Christian victims. None have food or shelter, he said.

Even Christian policemen were not immune, with about 30 officers and their families being attacked and their homes looted and set on fire.

Last week's massacre comes in respose to a call in July by the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar III, to Muslims in northern Nigeria to rise against Christianity. Kano's state government has led the way in northern Nigeria for the implementation of sharia Islamic law.

Mark Lipdo, director of the Stefanos Foundation, which ministers to persecuted Christians in Nigeria, told Compass he's shocked that the Nigerian government has done nothing to help the injured and displaced.

"It is surprising that an overwhelming thing like this that has displaced thousands of Christians is not known to the Nigerian government," he said, noting that the government initially downplayed the mass rampage. "The government must act to check such unprovoked attacks against Christians."

And Haruna of St. George’s Anglican Church said, "We are living under persecution in Kano state, and yet, we are being told that we are under a democratic government. Do Muslims really want us to co-exist together as a nation? I doubt so."

As WND reported in May, Christians in Nigeria, who make up about half the population, fears the imposition of Islamic law throughout that nation.

Indeed, as WND has reported, Muslim rioters in Nigeria in 2006 were incensed over cartoons of Muhammad published in Denmark, and more than 130 Christians in the Nigerian cities of Maiduguri and Onitsha were slaughtered.

The reports documented six children burned to ashes in front of their father, according to Voice of the Martyrs.


WND also has reported nearly 1,000 homes of Christians and many churches have been destroyed in these regions.

"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."

More than 10,000 Christians have been martyred in the region since the Islamic law was imposed in the region in 1999, and Voice of the Martyrs has helped surviving family members through its Families of Martyrs Fund with Care Packs, Village Outreach packs and words of encouragement to believers who stand for their faith "amidst volatile, uncertain conditions."

[eliteforce]

How could anyone negotiate with a mob in sectarian violence.

or how could anyone negotiate with the USA when they have a case where 14 innocent civilians are murdered by the US Marines (one of the only cases that managed to get publicised and where charges are files in the first place), the evidence is overwhelming that a massacre took place and they know for a fact who the people are who did this..and then this sham 'military court' doesn't hand down a single penalty, this is the same military court that holds thousands of Iraqi's w/o and other's w/o charge is secret jails from guantamino bay to who knows where?

[Logan13]

How could anyone negotiate with a mob in sectarian violence.

or how could anyone negotiate with the USA when they have a case where 14 innocent civilians are murdered by the US Marines (one of the only cases that managed to get publicised and where charges are files in the first place), the evidence is overwhelming that a massacre took place and they know for a fact who the people are who did this..and then this sham 'military court' doesn't hand down a single penalty, this is the same military court that holds thousands of Iraqi's w/o and other's w/o charge is secret jails from guantamino bay to who knows where?

This happened in Nigeria and had nothing to do with the USA...stay on topic please.

[eliteforce]

The 'topic' is pointing to some vicious sectarian violence and then commenting "How can we possibly negotiate with these people. Insinuating that because of this incident; How could you possibly negotiate with muslims that covers from North Africa to Indonesia.. and such issues as Irans nuclear program to trade pacts.. it's a ridiculous topic like saying N.Korea can't negotiate with the US because of the Haditha thing.. how could N.Korea possibly negotiate with people who massacre civilians and burn their dead bodies I mean how does the N.Korean diplomat at the dis-armanent talks know that the American guy isn't going to suddenly douse him with karosine and light a match..because we know that Americans have a tendency to abrubtly burn things.

[RA]

Stepping up the old anti-american rhetoric I see.

How could anyone negotiate with a mob in sectarian violence.

or how could anyone negotiate with the USA when they have a case where 14 innocent civilians are murdered by the US Marines (one of the only cases that managed to get publicised and where charges are files in the first place), the evidence is overwhelming that a massacre took place and they know for a fact who the people are who did this..and then this sham 'military court' doesn't hand down a single penalty, this is the same military court that holds thousands of Iraqi's w/o and other's w/o charge is secret jails from guantamino bay to who knows where?

[Tock]

More than 10,000 Christians have been martyred in the region since the Islamic law was imposed in the region in 1999

Since Nigerian Christians are only too happy to kill gay people, I find it difficult to dredge up much sympathy for the cause of Nigerian Christians.
Screw 'em all.

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http://allafrica.com/stories/200708100244.html

Nigeria: 18 Arrested For Sodomy - Face Death Penalty

Daily Champion (Lagos)

10 August 2007
Posted to the web 10 August 2007

Bauchi

EIGHTEEN suspected homosexuals have been arrested by the police in Bauchi for alleged sodomy.

The accused may be sentenced to death if convicted under Bauchi State's Islamic Shariah law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the suspects were arrested Sunday in a hotel in Bauchi and arraigned Wednesday before Justice Taminu Abubakar of the Bauchi High Court.

Prosecuting police officer, Thadius Boboi told the court that the men, who were wearing female clothing, had come to the city from five neighbouring states to celebrate a gay "marriage".

He said the men's actions had contravened the shari'ah penal code adopted in Bauchi and other states in muslim northern Nigeria eight years ago following the end of military rule.

In June an agency tasked with implementing shari'ah law in Bauchi called on the new state governor Isa Yuguda to approve three sentences of death by stoning and 40 of amputation passed since 2002 which his predecessor had refused to ratify.

The death sentences were passed for sexual offences, including one for sodomy.

In a Nigerian shari'ah state, the governor must give his approval before punishments like death and amputation passed by shari'ah courts are actually carried out.

Daily Champion recalls that the Federal Government last year banned gay marriage in Nigeria, thus ending hopes by people of same sex to enjoy marital relationships in the country.

The ban also affects staging of gay rallies. This resolution was reached during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which considered and endorsed the bill prohibiting gay marriage. It slammed five years prison terms with no option of fine on both direct violators of the law and those that aid and abet such marriages.

Immediate past minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Bayo Ojo (SAN) presented the bill to the meeting leading to the resolution.

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http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/4937

Gay Christians appeal to international community over repressive laws

By staff writers
26 Mar 2007
Gay Christians in Nigeria are urging international action against a new repressive law which is being backed by the Anglican church in the country.

The proposed law, that would impose brutal penalties on shows of affection between lesbian and gay people, or even on those who would advocate for lesbian and gay people, has already been condemned by more than 250 Christian leaders from the US, as well as the church in Canada and Christian in the UK. However, the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria is giving it his support.

The new measures would impose brutal penalties on all relationships, activism, advocacy, and shows of affection among lesbian and gay people. It would introduce criminal penalties for any public advocacy or associations supporting the rights of lesbian and gay people, as well as for same-sex relationships and marriage ceremonies.

The bill, entitled 'The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2006', goes much further than the name suggests. The bill provides for five years' imprisonment to anyone who "goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex," "performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage" or "is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private."

Any priest or cleric aiding or abetting such a union could be subject to the five-year prison term. The law would also prohibit adoption of children by lesbian or gay couples or individuals.

Homosexuality is already criminalized in Nigeria. Nigeria's criminal code penalizes consensual homosexual conduct between adults with 14 years' imprisonment. Shari'a penal codes in effect in northern Nigeria continue to punish 'sodomy' with the death penalty.

The “Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2006“ was debated on Thursday last week, by the Nigerian House of Representatives.

The version of the Bill presented is the original "Sani" version that was presented last March. No amendments have been made and the public hearing has not influenced the Bill in anyway say campaigners. The bill does not take into consideration the views of the Human Rights Committee of the House that the bill will create a fundamental abuse of human rights. The Committee is understood to be trying to block the Bill and the chair of the Committee reported that they are going to present a minority report. It is clear that no consensus has been reached on the content of the bill between certain of the house committees.

Changing attitude in Nigeria report that Archbishop Peter Akinola is said to be doing last minute lobbying of Anglicans in the House of Representatives and the Government to ensure the bill is voted on soon and passed into law.

Davis Mac-Iyalla, Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria (CAN), said: "Changing Attitude Nigeria stands as a reminder to the world-wide Anglican Communion that the Church of Nigeria is promoting and supporting a bill which will erode the most basic human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

"Archbishop Peter Akinola has committed himself to the Windsor Report which commits him to the process of listening to LGBT people. If he is honest and serious about listening to LGBT members in his Province he must speak out now in condemnation of this bill and ensure that it is defeated.

"I am very worried because very few Nigerian LGBT activists are free to speak out in a country which already has repressive anti-gay legislation on the statute book. The bill is moving very fast and although some people think the bill will fall, the Church sponsors are not giving up and neither are we.

"Conservative Christians want to use Nigeria as an example to other African countries to demonstrate that anti-gay legislation can be passed which criminalizes all affection and activity between LGBT people.”

[Logan13]

Since Nigerian Christians are only too happy to kill gay people, I find it difficult to dredge up much sympathy for the cause of Nigerian Christians.
Screw 'em all.

Even if this is true, I doubt that the Muslims would be fighting for you either.....

[Teabagger]

Tock, Tock, Tock,....such a bastion of love, acceptance, and tolerance of all...you certainly are an inspiration. And E-light...what can one say to a one man propaganda machine...