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Welcome to Aid to the Church In Need’s Where God Weeps – weekly program dedicated
to the situation of the suffering Church around the world.
The religious conflicts in Nigeria have claimed 10,000 lives in the last 4 years and have
destroyed properties worth millions of dollars. Over 300 Christian churches have been destroyed
and 250,000 people displaced.
It’s a feeling that one religion must be greater than the other.
What is the concern of Christians with the introduction of Sharia law in Nigeria?
Christians felt very threatened because they have lost so much.
If your business was selling drinks or cinema or whatever - the Sharia does not allow that.
Even the mode of dressing and freedom of worship and religion was threatened so Christians
have a reason to be very worried
There are some parts of Nigeria where there is a dominant Islamic regime, which is largely
controlled by many of these young men who have studied in Iran, Libya.
And in that kind of place they are trained to see, within Islam, also the element of
armed conflict.
In September 2004 about 60 members of a Muslim sect known as the Talibans attacked police
stations in the towns of Bama and Gwoza. They carried out raids on Christian communities,
killing people, raping women and burning down homes.
Over 300 churches have been destroyed? How are Catholics able to live their faith in
this context?
You can destroy the churches but you don’t destroy the Christian spirit in us.
We tell our Christians to stand up for your faith.
Encourage our Christians to avoid revenge, to avoid violence; we always preach the culture
of non-violence, and that is what our faith calls us to: to offer the other cheek.
If we respond in kind; if we fight, attack and kill, the whole place would be set on
fire.
I propose the dialogue of life as life, crisscrossing …
When you touch my life as a Muslim and I touch yours as a Christian, I think something is
happening and I believe that is what can bring - more understanding and creates an atmosphere
of peaceful co-existence.