We are extremely concerned by
the wave of violence and killings unleashed by the latest deadly bomb attacks
on churches by the Boko Haram group in Nigeria. Since several churches were
attacked by Boko Haram in Kaduna last Sunday (17 June), it is estimated that
over a hundred people have been killed; some 30 of them in the initial attacks
and subsequent retaliation by Christian youths who set up check points. The
rest were reportedly killed in clashes between the security forces and Muslims
protesting at the deadly retaliatory acts by the Christians, and most recently
in clashes between the security forces and alleged insurgents in Damaturu.
We condemn the repeated attacks
by Boko Haram on places of worship and on religious freedom, as well as its
blatant attempts to stir sectarian tensions and violence between two
communities that have lived together peacefully for so long. We encourage local
and national authorities to take effective measures to assist victims. Members
of Boko Haram and other groups and entities, if judged to have committed
widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population, including on
grounds such as religion or ethnicity, are likely to be found guilty of crimes
against humanity. Deliberate acts leading to population “cleansing” on grounds
of religion or ethnicity would also amount to a crime against humanity.
We also urge the authorities to
take measures to curb inflammatory or hate-speech and to work with all stakeholders
including civil society and religious leaders to help deal with this deadly
threat. It is encouraging that some religious leaders have been working
together to avoid such flare-ups of retaliatory violence. The Anglican
Archbishop of Jos, for example, recently made an important statement after some
other attacks on churches urging people to stay calm and saying that reprisals
were "futile" and only served to aggravate the situation. We urge him
and other Muslim and Christian leaders to redouble their efforts to contain
these extremely dangerous manifestations of religious intolerance and
inter-communal violence.
Rupert Colville,
Spokesperson For The UN High Commissioner For
Human Rights.
nice post
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