Muslims at Fault for Latest Violence, Says Head of Episcopate

Doesn’t Want Islamic Courts to Deal with Those Arrested in Kaduna

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ABUJA, Nigeria, NOV. 28, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The president of the Nigerian Catholic bishops’ conference hasn’t shied from assigning blame for the country’s recent violence.

«The Muslim community must assume responsibility for the dead and for the burnt-out churches in Kaduna,» Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja told the Misna agency.

«Until now, neither the Muslim leaders nor the government have wished to accept it, but someone must,» he said. «We want to know who is behind what has happened.»

The violence broke out last week in the north-central part of the country, following the publication of an article in ThisDay newspaper on the Miss World competition. The article angered Muslims by suggesting the prophet Mohammed would have approved of Miss World and possibly married one of the contestants.

Hundreds of Muslim protesters set fire to the headquarters of the newspaper in Kaduna. Later, a demonstration degenerated into an attack on Christian churches and buildings, eyewitnesses reported.

«Over 200 people were killed and many churches were burnt,» Archbishop Onaiyekan said. «We ask that the culprits be identified and punished. Let it not be said that it was a band of youngsters out of control.»

Hundreds were arrested in Kaduna. The Muslims arrested will be tried by Islamic courts.

«Whoever killed on the streets of the city must appear before a court of the Nigerian federation; we cannot accept the judgment of an Islamic court,» Archbishop Onaiyekan said.

He added: «Who will compensate the death of hundreds of people? Who will reconstruct the destroyed churches?

«Such violence does not happen unexpectedly. The Muslim leaders must guarantee to us that henceforth these episodes will not happen again. These people don’t take to the streets to plunder and devastate for no reason. Clearly, they have been incited; someone told them what they had to do.»

From Thursday to Saturday of last week, Kaduna was overwhelmed by the fury of Muslim fundamentalists who attacked Christians.

«I have met with very many Muslims who are ashamed about what happened,» Archbishop Onaiyekan observed. «Because of a group of extremists, the international community has an image of Nigeria as a country where there is no religious or social tolerance.»

The situation again raised questions about the wisdom of applying Shariah, or Islamic law, in Nigeria.

The archbishop said: «Until we agree to withdraw the Koranic law in the states where it has been adopted, we will continue to encourage fanaticism.»

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