“We feel that, as the emotion of the first days has now passed, our case is no longer of interest to our political leaders.” Yes, and Christian leaders in the West are far too concerned with pursuing a chimerical, deceptive and self-defeating “dialogue” with Muslim leaders to speak out about this persecution. In fact, entities such as the U.S. Catholic bishops have even moved actively to silence voices speaking honestly about why this persecution is happening. They’re afraid that honest discussion about it will harm the “dialogue” — a dialogue that hasn’t saved even on Christian’s life or kept even one church from being burned.
‘Life Has Stopped:’ 70 Niger Churches Struggle to Rebuild After Islamist Revenge Rampage for Charlie Hebdo Cartoons,” by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post, July 24, 2015:
Christian churches in Niger are facing a lack of resources and difficult conditions in rebuilding six months after the wave of angry Islamist attacks destroyed at least 70 houses of worship in revenge for Charlie Hebdo’s drawings of the Muslim prophet Muhammad.
“Since these incidents, it is as if life had stopped,” said Rev. Jacques Kangindé, leader of the Baptist “Roundabout” church in Niamey. “The church has become a source of curiosity for passers-by and a hide-out for idlers. Unfortunately our current church finances don’t allow us to begin the reconstruction.”
World Watch Monitor noted that most of the 70 churches destroyed in the attacks, as well as several Christian schools and an orphanage, have still not been rebuilt.
“We feel that, as the emotion of the first days has now passed, our case is no longer of interest to our political leaders,” Kangindé added.
“They seem more concerned with preparations for the elections [due in 2016] and the fight against Boko Haram. The churches are abandoned to their fate.”
Beside the property damage, Islamic mobs killed at least 10 people during the rampage back in January. The attacks sought to punish Christians for the cartoons published by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo — despite the fact that Hebdo is a secular magazine that has openly mocked Christians and is no way affiliated with any churches.
Hebdo itself suffered a terror attack in January in its offices in Paris, when Islamic gunmen shot down 12 of its workers for the Muhammad drawings.
Niger’s churches have been trying to survive and rebuild since the attacks, but it has proven to be a hard task, added Rev. Zakaria Jadi of the Salama church in the capital’s northern district of Bani Fandou 2.
“It is a blow to our church. For nearly a month, there was neither water nor electricity. We have done our best to allow our worship activities to restart, but we have now reached our limit. The reconstruction work may probably take some time,” Jadi said.
The pastor lost both his house and his church on the same day, and spoke of the pain he felt coming back to Salama to see the damage.
“I felt very bad, such an indescribable feeling when I saw my ripped-up Bible on the ground. For a pastor, it was like my entire life was torn apart. I could not stop shedding tears,” he added….
Evolution says
The PC zombies will skip all the facts in the article and attack Charlie Hebdo for having a lack of Nigerians working there.
Linde Barrera says
I did a little reading on Niger. Islam = a bit less than 51%, Christianity = a bit less than 48%. President gets elected and appoints the Prime Minister; they both share the power. Niger has a constitution and judicial system. Niger is a member of several African organizations that work to combat poverty. Average life span is about 56 years. Given these statistics, I doubt the government of Niger will help the Christian churches rebuild.
Bamaguje says
I think you are mixing up Niger and Nigeria.
Niger is over 90% Muslim, whereas Nigeria is only about 50%.
particolor says
Meaning they are both in Diabolical ! 🙁
mortimer says
Muslims do to others before others to unto them.
Any insult to Islamic supremacism is to be punished by death according to Sharia law.
By ‘only’ burning things down, no doubt, these Bronze Age warriors thought they were being ‘merciful’…even though the Nigerian Christians had no connection to the atheists at Charlie Hebdo.
mortimer says
Niger’s Muslims are engaging in ethnic cleansing and Niger’s government and police are complicit.
Any excuse will do for an Islamic supremacist.
Angemon says
Pretty much 🙁
Champ says
So many churches, so little time …oh the thankless job of a mohammedan is never done ..ho-hum, poor dears …well, they do have sex heaven to look forward to, so allah will thank them later …
Davegreybeard says
The whole Christian scene is so totally depressing, in every aspect.
From the horrible persecution they are suffering, and the active denial of reality from their coreligionists, to the whitewashing of Islam by almost all of their “leaders.”
Christians are the ones that should be “at the pointy end of the spear.” Instead we are treated to a huge flock of sheep, willfully exposing their bellies to the wolves.
Where are the calls in the U.S. for help and cash so these poor people can rebuild both their churches and their faith?
Nothing but crickets.
Depressing.
Baucent says
It’s a cruel irony what the actions of French atheists/agnostics result in suffering for Christians in Niger.