MUSLIM VIOLENCE FORCES CHRISTIAN WITHDRAWAL FROM PEACE TALKS

NIGERIA

21 April 2004

Violence in Kaduna has claimed 1000 Christian lives and destroyed 63 churches just this year; it must stop says the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

For three years, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has engaged in government-backed peace talks in the state of Kaduna with its Muslim counterpart, Jamutu’ul Nasir Islam (JNI). However, after the recent spate of attacks in which Islamic militants burnt down nine churches in Makarfi, CAN leaders say the peace process has been undermined.

As a result of the ongoing violence against Christians, CAN withdrew from the talks 9 April saying, “If we continue to dialogue with people when we doubt their sincerity and commitment to the peace which we are honestly pursuing, then the consequences will be grave, to our peril and enslavement.”

North and Middle Belt Nigeria is plagued with frequent outbreaks of rioting between Muslims and Christians. Over 10,000 have been killed in such sectarian violence since 2000 when 12 Muslim-majority states in North Nigeria adopted Islamic law (shari’a).

PRAY

* Pray that JNI would be serious about a peace accord and that they would show their commitment by condemning violence and cracking down on militant Islamic elements. * Pray for a halt to the further Islamisation of Kaduna and the Middle Belt states that have not yet fully introduced shari’a. * Pray for clear action and wise decisions by the leaders of CAN.

BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE Barnabas Fund’s e-mail news service provides the media and our supporters with urgent news briefs concerning suffering Christians around the world.

If you would like to receive news briefs from the Barnabas Fund please contact us with your name, postal and e-mail addresses.

Further details, quotes and photos on this and other stories may be available for news editors on request.

Barnabas Fund works to support Christian communities mainly, but not exclusively, in the Islamic world where they are facing poverty and persecution.

Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK. Tel: +44(0)1672 564938, Fax: +44(0)1672 565030, E-mail: Web: http://www.barnabasfund.org

————————————————————– ————- To be unsubscribed from the BF Email News mailing list simply click on the link below http://subscribe.barnabasfund.org/s.cgi?r=1&l=68&e=rcroucher=: optusnet.com.au

This mailing proudly powered by Subscribe Me(TM) Professional http://www.subscribemepro.com