“We Have to Kill Those Who Preach Christianity”

Nigeria: Beginning on Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day, Muslim terrorists massacred nearly 200 Christians. Well-armed Muslim Fulani tribesmen hacked, stabbed, riddled with bullets and burned alive Christians, many of whom were in the process of celebrating Christmas. According to one report:

"At least 25 communities across three Local Government Areas [in Plateau State] were targeted. Survivors recounted militia men attacking in large numbers, indiscriminately killing and destroying homes, vehicles, farmlands and other properties. About 37 individuals, primarily women, children and the disabled, were burned to death in their homes. Eight churches and parsonages were also destroyed..."

More than 300 Christians were left seriously wounded; 29,350 people displaced, and countless homes and churches—in just one village, 221 homes—torched during the jihadist raids. "My house was burnt," said Naomi, a local whose four family members were murdered, "and I mourned on Christmas day."

Several Christian leaders were also killed, including one pastor, his wife, and five children, said Dawzino Mallau, another local: "These terrorists who attacked these Christian communities were in the hundreds," he added, "and they carried out the attacks as the hapless Christians were preparing for Christmas programs lined up by their pastors." Another report stated:

"Most of the Christians killed were women, children and the elderly unable to escape..... Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians' lands and impose Islam... Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people."

[Here are a few comments from a long and growing list:]

·  "[I]t is also the existence of disbelief itself that is a 'grievance'," — Aymenn Jawad al Tamimi, December , 2023, Philippines.

·  [I]n Austria, on Dec. 9, Heiligenkreuz Abbey received a bomb threat by phone. Police later confirmed that it had an "Islamist overtone". The caller had said "Convert to Islam, or I'll bomb you away!".... Vienna police confirmed that an increase in terrorist activities always occurs during the Christian season: "there is generally an increased risk in Austria during the Christmas holidays." The remainder of the report makes clear just how dangerous, and onerous, the Christmas season has become in Germany and Austria in recent years

·  "Reports include statements like, 'We have to kill those who preach Christianity, and these Christians have no place in Mauritania.'" — persecution.org, December 13, 2023.

·  Two Christian evangelists, Joseph and Isaac, after Muslims beat them for quoting the Koran, spent Christmas Day in jail for "blasphemy." The report does not indicate which verses were deemed so objectionable, or why. — morningstarnews.org, December 22, 2023,

Uganda: After Muslims beat them for quoting the Koran, two Christian evangelists, Joseph and Isaac, spent Christmas Day in jail for "blasphemy." The report does not indicate which verses were deemed so objectionable, or why. The two men had been preaching on a street corner when they were surprised to see "a multitude of Muslims," said Pastor Robert, who was there but managed to escape.

"We thought that maybe they had come to listen to the word of God, but to our surprise, they just grabbed my colleagues and started beating them, and shortly police came and arrested them."

The two Christians were subsequently charged under Section 122 of Uganda's penal code for allegedly "wounding the religious feelings" of Muslims, and sent to jail to await trial. Muslims were particularly outraged that the evangelists quoted from the Koran during their missionizing efforts. As one Muslim leader told authorities:

"We as Muslims have worked hand in hand to get these kafir [infidels] after warning them to stop using our Koran and other Islamic literature, but they refused. They were quoting the Koran while speaking to our Muslims on the streets of Soroti—this is unacceptable in our faith."

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20322/persecution-of-christians-december