“In the wake of the “Arab Spring” across northern Africa, Islam has been on the rise throughout the continent, and with it, violent persecution against Christians,” said Michael Carl, a veteran journalist and bi-vocational pastor.
Carl recalled, in an article in American news site WND today, how “Christians in Tanzania, for example, are on alert after an Assemblies of God pastor was killed while attempting to stop Muslim youth from killing two Christian meat cutters.”
Carl recalled, in an article in American news site WND today, how “Christians in Tanzania, for example, are on alert after an Assemblies of God pastor was killed while attempting to stop Muslim youth from killing two Christian meat cutters.”
He quoted the International Christian Concern (ICC) as saying, "This attack set off a two-week string of violent anti-Christian attacks in Tanzania’s northwestern Geita region.”
Carl noted that after the death of the pastor, a Catholic priest in Zanzibar, off the east coast of Tanzania, was killed by Muslim extremists.
Carl drew upon breakdown from William Stark, an analyst for the African division of ICC, who pointed to a text message revealing a relationship between the extremists’ attacks and the rise of the Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
“I would agree that the latest series of attacks is likely the beginning of a trend,” Stark said. “Radicalized Muslim youths are being used to commit terrible acts of violence in both Kenya and Tanzania.”
Stark added that a direct connection is difficult to prove, but noted the fast rise of Islamism in Tanzania.
He also noted the rise may be fueled by nationalist fervor, saying, ““The island [Zanzibar] has always been somewhat autonomous, but now that radical Islam is starting to take root, Muslims youths are turning to violence in order to separate Zanzibar from the rest of Tanzania.”
“Unfortunately for Christians, pastors and other Christians make an easy target.”
Carl also highlighted Christian persecution in Eritrea, noting the Open Doors reports from earlier this month, which suggests the Eritrean government “arrested, detained and publicly beat 125 Christians.”
And on the violent attacks on Christian neighborhoods in Nigeria, which last week witnessed a bombing in the Sabon Gari district of Kano, Nigeria, killed 25 and wounded 60 others.
Carl remarked that this bombing came at the same time as criticisms of terrorism group Boko Haram by a Nigerian Catholic priest, who denounced the group for an attack that destroyed 50 churches in his diocese.
Carl also noted the continued campaign of arrests of Egyptian Christians in Libya, under accusations of proselytizing, and the large number of Christians now fleeing from Sudan, quoting a report from Christian human rights group Barnabas Aid that another 1,500 Christians have been safely airlifted from Khartoum to the recently formed nation of South Sudan.
Carl noted that after the death of the pastor, a Catholic priest in Zanzibar, off the east coast of Tanzania, was killed by Muslim extremists.
Carl drew upon breakdown from William Stark, an analyst for the African division of ICC, who pointed to a text message revealing a relationship between the extremists’ attacks and the rise of the Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
“I would agree that the latest series of attacks is likely the beginning of a trend,” Stark said. “Radicalized Muslim youths are being used to commit terrible acts of violence in both Kenya and Tanzania.”
Stark added that a direct connection is difficult to prove, but noted the fast rise of Islamism in Tanzania.
He also noted the rise may be fueled by nationalist fervor, saying, ““The island [Zanzibar] has always been somewhat autonomous, but now that radical Islam is starting to take root, Muslims youths are turning to violence in order to separate Zanzibar from the rest of Tanzania.”
“Unfortunately for Christians, pastors and other Christians make an easy target.”
Carl also highlighted Christian persecution in Eritrea, noting the Open Doors reports from earlier this month, which suggests the Eritrean government “arrested, detained and publicly beat 125 Christians.”
And on the violent attacks on Christian neighborhoods in Nigeria, which last week witnessed a bombing in the Sabon Gari district of Kano, Nigeria, killed 25 and wounded 60 others.
Carl remarked that this bombing came at the same time as criticisms of terrorism group Boko Haram by a Nigerian Catholic priest, who denounced the group for an attack that destroyed 50 churches in his diocese.
Carl also noted the continued campaign of arrests of Egyptian Christians in Libya, under accusations of proselytizing, and the large number of Christians now fleeing from Sudan, quoting a report from Christian human rights group Barnabas Aid that another 1,500 Christians have been safely airlifted from Khartoum to the recently formed nation of South Sudan.
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