STOP BOMBING CHURCHES

12th July, 2011 PRESS RELEASE: STOP BOMBING CHURCHES   A bomb exploded at the all Christian Fellowship Church on Church Road, Suleja in Niger State on Sunday, 10th July, 2011. Two people died in the attack while several others suffered different degrees of injuries. This explosion inside a church is not the first of its kind as it has been preceded by several others in the northern part of Nigeria.   We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) totally and unreservedly condemn this and all violent attacks. We assert that violence is antithetical to the true teachings of Islam. The Glorious Qur'an advocates dialogue between Muslims and Christians on issues of common interest (Qur'an 3:64). There is nowhere in the scripture of Islam where Muslims are enjoined to violently attack Christians. The Qur'an forbids the use of force except when Muslims are attacked (2:190). There is no evidence that the Christians inside the Suleja church had attacked Muslims.   It is also instructive that Muslims are not allowed to use any other method of attack except the type used by the enemy (famani'tada alaykum, fa'tadu alayhi bimithli ma'tada alaykum Qur'an 2:194). Have Christians bombed any mosque in Nigeria? Why then are their churches being bombed?   Even when there is real attack on Muslims, the Qur'an draws a limit to the extent that Muslims can go. It says Muslims must stop all attacks once the attackers have also stopped (2:193) and urges forgiveness once the attackers have stopped (2:192). Why then are these faceless attackers throwing bombs instead of forgiving their perceived enemies?   MURIC is irked by the recklessness and audacity of those behind the bombing of churches. We roundly denounce them and we authoritatively, clearly and unequivocally dissociate ourselves from such perpetrators. These people cannot be genuine Muslims. They are anarchists out to throw Nigeria into an orgy of religious killings. Their target is war between Christians and Muslims.   We charge the security agencies to unveil the identities of these blood-thirsty extremists. Steps must also be taken to secure churches from future attacks. We appeal to all Nigerians to be law-abiding, peace-loving and forgiving. Christians and Muslims are from one Father of Faith (Abraham). Religion is designed to link people in love. There is no religion that teaches violence.   Dr. Is-haq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 234-818-211-9714 234-803-346-4974   Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk              muslimrights@gmail.com Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimconcern           Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace