AJC Condemns Muslim Attacks on Christians in Nigeria

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Jan 08, 2012, 06:25 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC condemned the latest wave of targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO )

More than 52 people have been murdered in recent days alone by Boko Haram, a Muslim sect that carried out deadly assaults on three churches on Christmas Day and countless other terrorist attacks against Nigeria's Christian population.

"Such indiscriminate killings of Christians in Nigeria is beyond deplorable and despicable," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "We look to Nigeria's religious leaders to stand together in forcefully condemning such atrocities in the name of a religious group."

Boko Haram, which aims to install strict Shariah, or Islamic, law across Nigeria, has vowed to keep killing Christians in the multiethnic country.

In today's attack, at least eight worshippers attending Sunday mass were killed at the Apostolic Church in Yola. More than 20 people were killed yesterday in Mubi.

The latest murderous assaults come after the Christmas Day bombings at the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla and Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Jos, which left more than 40 worshippers dead.

"We join with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in calling on the Administration to press the Nigerians to do their utmost to put to an end this wanton violence by Boko Haram," said Harris.

www.ajc.org

SOURCE American Jewish Committee