ADF international outbursts claim persecution of Christians is caused by environmental factors, not Islamic extremism
The European Parliament condemned the massacre of Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Eve, but attributed the violence to climate change and environmental degradation rather than Sharia law, Islamic extremist groups and the dangers of blasphemy accusations .
During the 2023 Christmas period, Fulani militants killed at least 195 Christians in more than 20 communities in Nigeria’s Central Plateau State. The attacks also left more than 300 people injured, the destruction of homes, the burning of eight churches and the displacement of 15,000 people.
The EU resolution states that “the conflict is increasingly being described in religious terms, while the perpetrators have yet to be identified and several factors must be taken into account, such as competition for land fueled by rapid climate change and inability to authorities to hold those responsible to account. for violence. »
It further calls on Nigerian authorities “to take significant steps to identify and address all the root causes of violence in Plateau State, such as competition for scarce resources, environmental degradation and disappearance of effective mediation programs.
Georgia Du Plessis of the human rights group ADF International critical the resolution to downplay religious motivations behind the attacks, emphasizing that climate change does not lead to the massacre of Christian villages.
In 2021, Nigeria was the deadliest country for Christians, with 90% of Christian martyrs worldwide. On average, 14 Nigerian Christians are killed every day because of their faith.
MEPs Bert-Jan Ruissen and György Hölvényi also expressed concerns that the resolution does not recognize Islamic extremism as the main cause of the violence.
“To say that this is a simple conflict between farmers and herders ignores the other causes. It is Muslim extremists who cause death and destruction,” Ruissen said.
“Blind by ideology, some people are completely insensitive to human suffering when it comes to Christians,” Hölvényi added. “The timing of the attacks, brutal killings and destruction of churches cannot be misinterpreted and can only be understood as persecution of Christians and we should be able to say that. »
ADF International said it was also involved in a major court case supporting Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Sufi Muslim musician sentenced to death under blasphemy laws in Nigeria’s Kano State, challenging the constitutionality of the laws on blasphemy based on Sharia law, which could lead to their repeal.
Coordinated attacks by Fulani militias from December 23 to 26 were described as “pure terrorism” by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, leading to calls for a swift and independent investigation by the High -UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.
US-based NGO International Christian Concern has documented the widespread damage and loss of life, calling on Nigerian authorities to prioritize the arrest and prosecution of terrorists.
Nigeria has been on the ICC’s Persecutors of the Year list for three years due to continued violence against Christians.
The attackers, often referred to as “bandits”, are a mix of criminal elements, including Fulani herders and mercenaries from Chad or Niger. They are well armed and have been active in northern Nigeria for over a decade. Christian leaders believe these attacks are motivated by a desire to seize Christian lands and impose Islam.
Nigeria leads the world in the number of Christians killed for their faith in 2022, according to Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List report, which also notes the involvement of the Fulani, Boko Haram and the province of Islamic State in West Africa, or ISWAP, in these raids.
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