Update (July 2): Voice of America (VOA) reports that the amnesty committee set up by Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan to help broker peace between Boko Haram insurgents and the government is "calling for Islamic leaders to help bridge the gap between the government and militants. But Islamic leaders say Boko Haram violence is unfairly associated with the Muslim religion."

But Nigeria's Muslims are dissociating themselves from Boko Haram and its violent campaign. VOA reports that Nigeria's leading Muslim cleric, Sultan of Sokoto Muhammed Sa'adu Abubakar, says "criminal acts are not religious acts, just because criminals claim them to be so."

According to Human Rights Watch, Boko Haram is responsible for more than 3,600 deaths of Muslims and Christians alike since 2009. "But before anyone can be punished, or given amnesty, whoever is responsible for the Boko Haram carnage has to be caught or come to the table. And they don't appear to be interested," ...

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