Six months since 70 churches destroyed in wake of attacks in Paris
By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com)
NIGER. (ANS. JULY 23)
In the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, the churches in
the predominantly Muslim West African nation of Niger experienced the
worst attacks in their history.
On the weekend of Jan. 16-17,
hundreds of angry Islamists attacked and ransacked dozens of
properties and churches, shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“Allah is the
greatest”).
Ten people lost their lives
during that weekend; more than 70 churches were destroyed, as well as
numerous Christian schools and organizations, including an orphanage. At
least 30 Christian homes were also looted and burnt down.
According to a story by Illia
Djadi for World Watch Monitor (WWM), six months on, the reconstruction
work is moving slowly and proving very expensive. Most damaged churches
and properties are still not rebuilt, and the financial support promised
by the state has yet to materialize.
In the heart of the capital,
Niamey, the Baptist “Roundabout” church (founded in 1929) has long
symbolized the presence of Protestant Christians in Niger.
Over the years, WWM said, it
has hosted generations of all geographic and social origins: students,
diplomats and businessmen - both expatriates and Nigeriens.
Now its collapsed roof, along
with its façade and walls blackened by flames, present a scene of
desolation. Puddles on the floor highlight the urgency of repair,
particularly as the rainy season begins.
On Jan. 17, this church was
among the first targeted by demonstrators. The motive was said to be
anger at the presence of Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou and five
other African heads of state in Paris on Jan. 11, in what was perceived
to be support for an anti-religious magazine.
The “memorial” issue of
Charlie Hebdo, showing the Prophet Mohammad weeping, reinforced this
anger and triggered the protests, which quickly turned into
anti-Christian violence.
The protests, which began in
Zinder, Niger's second city, on Jan. 15 and 16 quickly spread to other
parts of the country, including Niamey, the following day.
“Since these incidents, it is as if life had stopped,” said Rev. Jacques Kagnindé, leader of the “Roundabout” church.
WWM said he added, “The
church has become a source of curiosity for passers-by and a hide-out
for idlers. Unfortunately our current church finances don't allow us to
begin the reconstruction.”
His
church is still waiting for the financial support promised by the
government, so Sunday services and other weekly meetings are held in a
tent in the church courtyard. There is a sense of abandonment among
victims of such violence.
“We feel that, as the emotion
of the first days has now passed, our case is no longer of interest to
our political leaders,” said Kagnindé.
He continued, “They seem more
concerned with preparations for the elections (due in 2016) and the
fight against Boko Haram. The churches are abandoned to their fate.”
At Salama church, in the capital's northern district of Bani Fandou 2, WWM said the situation is similar.
On Jan. 17, a horde of angry
protesters ransacked the church, looting and setting on fire several
houses, including the pastor's. A sewing workshop was turned into pieces
and its contents, notably 15 sewing machines, were stolen.
Everything is still in need of reconstruction, the pastor, Rev. Zakaria Jadi, told WWM.
He said, “It is a blow to our
church. For nearly a month, there was neither water nor electricity. We
have done our best to allow our worship activities to restart, but we
have now reached our limit. The reconstruction work may probably take
some time.”
The violence also revealed
the inability of the security forces to ensure the protection of
Christians and their properties. In Niamey, looters roamed across the
city on motorbikes, in cars or taxis, without facing any resistance from
security forces.
Various sources told WWM that
there were no forces around the capital's main churches - except the
Catholic Cathedral, where a heavy police presence meant it was one of
the few to escape attack.
In Zinder, some pointed to a
lack of action by local security forces, after messages calling for a
demonstration after Friday prayers circulated widely (mainly by phone
texts) on Thursday, Jan 15.
In both Niamey and Zinder, the violence appears to have been well planned and executed.
“How can one make sense of the fact that, in under two hours, more
than 40 churches were destroyed across the capital?” asked a spokesman
for Caritas, the Catholic aid agency, on French radio.
The absence of firefighters shocked many; fire and smoke were seen in some churches days after the incidents.
Lack of support
Apart from the material
needs, estimated at hundreds of thousands of US dollars, the victims of
the violence are in great need of psychological support.
WWM said according to a
survey by the American NGO, Samaritan's Purse, based on a sample of 40
respondents, 32 people are suffering from severe trauma, and eight
moderate trauma.
For Jadi, who lost both his
house and his church, it was not easy to overcome the pain. On the day
of the attack, he just had time to get his family into a safe place.
He said, “When I returned to
assess the scale of the damage, I started to step across our remaining
personal belongings along the way, such as books, kitchen utensils and
clothes.”
WWM said he added, “I felt
very bad, such an indescribable feeling when I saw my ripped up Bible on
the ground. For a pastor, it was like my entire life was torn apart. I
could not stop shedding tears.”
But now, Jadi has forgiven and wants to move forward.
He said, “It was truly
hurting, but I was well supported by brothers and sisters who have
encouraged me a lot. And I received my greatest encouragement from God.
He has really strengthened me in order to overcome that ordeal. And he
also allowed me to support those who were in tears.”
He continued, “This painful
experience shows also how it is not good for a man to place all his hope
in the things of this world. If my life consisted of material
belongings, maybe I would not be here today?”
For Ruth, his wife, the healing process has been slower, he said.
“Almost every time we enter
the church compound and she sees what used to be our home, it reminds
her of the painful memories. She almost always ends up shedding tears.
But by the grace of God, since July 12, she felt relieved and was able
to share her testimony at church."
Rev. Samaila Labo, pastor of
the Evangelical Church of the Niger Republic in the northern Niamey
district of Boukoki 2, also lost his house and his church.
The church had hoped to get a
new roof, Labo told WWM, but such was the extent of the damage, the
whole church needed to be completely rebuilt.
Reconstruction will be long and expensive, WWM reported he said.
“This is why the church decided to build a temporary chapel with solid materials that resist rain and weather.”
The provisional chapel was inaugurated on Sunday July 12, to his great satisfaction.
He said, “It's a great relief for me to see our members protected
from rain and wind. This has also challenged us, that we will not stop
our efforts until we rebuild our damaged church.”
For more information visit www.worldwatchmonitor.org
Photo captions: 1) Violence in Niger. 2) One of the churches attacked. 3) Jeremy Reynalds.
About the writer:
Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a
freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New
Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, www.joyjunction.org. He
has a master's degree in communication from the University of New
Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in
Los Angeles. His newest book is "From Destitute to Ph.D." Additional
details on "From Destitute to Ph.D." are available at www.myhomelessjourney.com.
Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Elma. For more information contact Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@gmail.com.
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