Bearing the Cross: Nigeria: Sub-Saharan Powder Keg | Christianity Today

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2003 > February

Christianity Today, February, 2003 |

Bearing the Cross: Nigeria: Sub-Saharan Powder Keg

What you can do to help persecuted Christians in Nigeria

Jeff M. Sellers | posted 2/01/2003 12:00AM

2 of 2

Suggested Action

Whether President Obasanjo remains in power or not, the moment is critical for Christians to support religious freedom in Nigeria.

Considering Nigeria an "anchor state" of democracy in the region, the United States has provided aid for reforms and buys Nigerian oil. With official channels in place, concerned Christians can keep religious freedom in focus amid Nigeria's political uncertainty by writing local congressional representatives, the State Department (Colin Powell, Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W., Suite 7276, Washington, DC 20520), and President Bush (The White House, Washington, DC 20500).

Urge that the U.S. government condemn religious discrimination in Nigeria, and that it encourage Nigerian officials to ensure that Shari'ah law does not apply to non-Muslims; that officials prevent quasi-official or vigilante groups from enforcing Shari'ah law; that they prevent and contain acts of communal violence, forestall reprisals, and bring those responsible for such violence to justice; that they investigate obstacles to building and repairing places of worship; and that they allow religious instruction in public schools.

Direct the same points to Nigeria's embassy to the United States:

Amb. Jibril Muhammad Aminu
Embassy of Nigeria
1333 16th St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

Pray for Nigerian leaders' ability to defuse potentially explosive ethnic and religious conflicts; for Nigerian Christians to practice forgiveness rather than revenge; for healing and restoration for those who have suffered loss, bereavement and rape; and for the strengthening of Nigerian Christians' faith amid distress.

—Jeff M. Sellers

Related Elsewhere

You can also contact your representative or senator online, as well as the White House.

The U.S. State Department Human Rights Report and Annual International Religious Freedom Report for Nigeria are available online.

Christianity Today's "Bearing the Cross" articles by Jeff M. Sellers have focused on persecution in countries including Egypt, Cuba, Turkmenistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Vietnam, Pakistan, Laos, North Korea, Sudan, Indonesia, and China.

Christianity Today's persecution archive has more articles on religious discrimination and violence from around the world. The World Report section allows readers to search for past articles by country (see articles on Nigeria).

For more on Nigeria and Shari'ah law, see Yahoo's Full Coverage and AllAfrica.com

Christianity Today articles on persecution and religious tensions in Nigeria include:

Violence-Weary Muslims and Christians Talk Peace in Nigeria | Shari'ah law divides leaders. (Nov. 4, 2002)

'A Blast of Hell' | 500,000 people uprooted, thousands dead in violence. (Sept. 24, 2002)

Where Adultery Means Death | Political and religious leaders clash in Nigeria over the increased use of Islamic law (May 8, 2002)

Archbishop Proposes to Die in Place of Woman Sentenced to Stoning | Okogie's offer is a protest against Nigeria's Islamic Shari'ah law. (Feb. 25, 2002)

Chronic Violence Claims 2,000 Lives | The adoption of Islamic law in northern Nigeria has ignited conflict between Christians and Muslims. (Jan. 7, 2002)

Hundreds of Christians Take Shelter in Barracks After Riots in Nigeria | Some report that violence since mid-October has left more than 200 dead. (Nov. 1, 2001)

Religious Riots in Nigeria Leave Hundreds Dead | Leaders condemn the use of religion as a tool for violence. (Oct. 2, 2001)

Orphaned and Widowed | Christian families devastated since Shari'ah law adopted. (August 29, 2001)

Christians and Muslims at Odds Over Nigerian Constitution | Calls made to limit Shari'ah law in Northern states. (July 12, 2001)

Nigeria Officials Press Northern Governors to Scale Back Islamic Law | Churches harassed by Islamic youths purporting to enforce the law. (June 14, 2001)

Five Anglicans in Court After Rescuing Teenagers From Arranged Marriages | Priests claim Christian sisters are being forced into Islam. (June 5, 2001)

The Shari'ah Threat | Muslim Fundamentalist law troubles Christians and some Muslims. (Feb. 2, 2001)

'Focused, Determined, Deliberate' Destruction | Ecumenical leader calls on Nigeria to deal with religious violence between Muslims and Christians. (Oct. 30, 2000)

Nigerian Muslims and Christians Form a Religious Council | Gombe, a north Nigerian state, creates a council of faiths to deal with fears over Islamic law. (Sept. 19, 2000)

Churches Challenge Islamic Law | Christians plan to take Shari'ah to court. (Aug. 15, 2000)

Is Nigeria Moving Toward War? | Deadly riots lead to suspension of Islamic law. (March 31, 2000)

Nigeria On the Brink of Religious War | Northern states adopt Islamic law, increasing Christian-Muslim tensions. (Dec. 16, 1999)

Nigeria's Churches Considering Legal Challenge to Islamic Laws | Third state moving toward implementing Koranic laws (Dec. 17, 1999)

Can Christianity and Islam Coexist and Prosper? | Is peace with Islam possible? (Oct. 25, 1999)

first page |

2 of 2

share this page

February 2003, Vol. 47, No. 2

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment

Reader Reviews are below

Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.

If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.

Click here for international orders

2-for-1 Gifts!

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating: Not rated

The allotted time for commenting has ended.