Sharia Law and Christians: Persecution in Nigeria
"God is great!" chant militants from the Islamic terror group Boko Haram as they carry out attacks on Nigeria's civilians. Innocent Nigerians are pulled from their cars and shot, corpses left strewn about the streets. Hundreds abruptly and maliciously killed.
The militant group is only one of many in Nigeria that actively seeks to continue the spread of Islamic sharia law. Islamic law governs all aspects of daily life, with harsh punishment, such as flogging, exile, or execution, for any deviation from what sharia dictates.
Africa's most populous country, Nigeria has roughly equal populations of Muslims and Christians. Violence between religious groups has increased dramatically throughout the past decade, as the country's Muslim north began strict enforcement of sharia law. Muslims in Nigeria had argued that the introduction of sharia law would not affect Christians.
Instead, Nigeria's Christians have experienced unthinkable persecutions. The Nigerian church has suffered greatly, similar to our brothers and sisters across the world in other predominately Islamic nations. Christians are imprisoned illegally, tried in sharia courts without the right to appeal. Blame is cast upon Christians for illegal acts. Over 100 churches have been destroyed, many torched and razed. Islamic extremists have taken Christians hostage and beheaded pastors when they refused to convert to Islam. Since 1999, more than 10,000 people have died because of Muslim and Christian conflicts in Nigeria.
Yet the hope and steadfast faith of Nigerian Christians is a testimony to the power of Jesus Christ. As one Nigerian Christian proclaimed, "God never makes a mistake. His work in our lives is perfect."
by brittany
The militant group is only one of many in Nigeria that actively seeks to continue the spread of Islamic sharia law. Islamic law governs all aspects of daily life, with harsh punishment, such as flogging, exile, or execution, for any deviation from what sharia dictates.
Africa's most populous country, Nigeria has roughly equal populations of Muslims and Christians. Violence between religious groups has increased dramatically throughout the past decade, as the country's Muslim north began strict enforcement of sharia law. Muslims in Nigeria had argued that the introduction of sharia law would not affect Christians.
Instead, Nigeria's Christians have experienced unthinkable persecutions. The Nigerian church has suffered greatly, similar to our brothers and sisters across the world in other predominately Islamic nations. Christians are imprisoned illegally, tried in sharia courts without the right to appeal. Blame is cast upon Christians for illegal acts. Over 100 churches have been destroyed, many torched and razed. Islamic extremists have taken Christians hostage and beheaded pastors when they refused to convert to Islam. Since 1999, more than 10,000 people have died because of Muslim and Christian conflicts in Nigeria.
Yet the hope and steadfast faith of Nigerian Christians is a testimony to the power of Jesus Christ. As one Nigerian Christian proclaimed, "God never makes a mistake. His work in our lives is perfect."
by brittany