Witnessed Muslims’ Attacks

I only heard about Muslim attacks towards Christians in the name of Allah, but this evening I experienced it myself whilst doing high school in Mangochi. I was coming from home cell prayers and decided to walk my friend Issah (who converted from Islam…) I do know the world is trying not to generalize all Muslims as terrorists and that is true not all Muslims are terrorists, I do have very great Muslim friends who will be very upset with what has happened…

To go to Issah’s place we had to pass by the church, as we approached the church compound we saw the building going on fire and people coming out of the compound with sticks on fire and singing Arabic songs.  I should unapologetically communicate that the people who attacked our church, Mangochi Faith Temple, and many other churches in town are sheiks, Muslim members who were in their robes and hijabs shouting the name of ‘Allah’ and all sorts of Islamic chants. Some of them were known to us as neighbors or members of the community... In fact, it was denied that these the rioters begun with a prayer at the main mosque before going out to attack. The main motive of the attacks was the fact that the Malawian government arrested some Al Qaeda suspects. How that justified the attacks of Christian churches and pastors’ residences, Christian businesses, I don’t know…

We waited a little until many of them had departed the compound and we ran to our pastor's house which was located in the same compound with the church. We found every thing demolished, the church, the pastor's residence; doors broken, windows smashed, furnitures burnt... Our worry was not about the properties, but the pastor and his family. None of them were home at the time and we only prayed and hoped they actually were not there when the rioters came. Thank God the pastor, his wife and all his seven children were not at home at the time.

 

Below are articles which reported the attacks;

Munthali, Gedion(1 July, 2003). Muslims protest, attack churches. http://www.religionnewsblog.com/3635/muslims-protest-attack-churches

Malawi Muslims Attack Christians (3 July, 2003). Lee, Young. Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/news/malawi-muslims-attack-christians-72/

Malawi leader warns rioter (28 June, 2003). BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3029164.stm