ISIS-linked militants butcher 70 Christians in Congo, Global leaders urged to act

Pune: Dr. Abraham Mathai, former vice chairman of Maharashtra State Minority Commission, has urged The International Court of Justice to take suo moto cognizance of the heinous massacre of 70 Christians in the Republic of Congo by Islamic Jihadists on February 13.

“We strongly condemn this heinous act of violence against civilians and call upon civil societies, governments, and international organizations to prioritize civilian protection in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo immediately,” said Dr Mathai, also chairman of Mumbai-based NGO Harmony Foundation.

The attackers, members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), rounded up the victims from the Lubero district before executing them inside a Protestant church in Kasanga.

Witnesses reported, as per the report, that the rebels shouted, "Get out, get out," as they forced the Christians from their homes.

Dr Mathai has urged the United Nations Security Council to immediately launch investigations to ensure that the perpetrators of these atrocious acts of religious genocide against the Christian community, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with their financiers are charged by the International Criminal Court at Hague.

"Unfortunately there is a deafening silence from most of the international media which defies all logic," Dr Mathai said.

The Alliance for Democratic Forces (ADF), an African terrorist organization aligned with the jihadist ISIS, stands out for its brutal tactics and explicit animosity towards the Christian community, he said.

Why is such heinous violence of religious genocide allowed to be perpetrated with impunity, where almost no one is held accountable?

“Despite the scale of the atrocity, the massacre has received little international media attention, yet reported by Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) social media channels, tracked by the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium, Dr Mathai noted.

Hence, the deafening silence by the international media in the face of religious genocide, a crime violating international law, is a genuine cause of concern, he stressed.

Should it be inferred that because they are Christians from the remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa is why the international media is not giving it importance but rather respond with a deafening silence? Should it be presumed that the western media expected to be global is still holding on to leftovers from apartheid?

“The international media probably owes an explanation to human rights groups worldwide as why this brutal massacre amounting to religious genocide was not a front-page news,” Dr Mathai asked.

He said human beings are all part of the international community and whatever affects humanity in any remote part of the globe will have a ripple effect and therefore the silence of top media houses like the Washington Post and the New York Times not reporting this international crime is a great concern.

“When religious extremists butcher a whole congregation and we don't hear it reported by the mainstream international media, it emboldens the perpetrators of the same,” Dr Mathai said.

He said the civil societies locally and globally along with governments and international organizations should rally together in solidarity and condemn these barbaric atrocities committed by this anarchic Islamic terrorist outfit blatantly disregarding human rights, so that the cries of the victims be heard.

There is also the deafening silence of the Islamic fraternity worldwide, Dr Mathai pointed out. Should their deafening silence be construed to imply their tacit approval of these inhumane murders and brutal killings? They should make their stand known on these murderous acts carried out with impunity, he said.

“Sadly, the violence takes place in a context of such impunity, where almost no one is held accountable. This massacre is a clear indicator of widespread human rights violations against civilians and vulnerable communities, often targeting Christians, perpetrated by ADF, an [Islamic State] affiliate, Dr Mathai said.