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World News

Niger churches still abandoned

by Hannah Tooley

The Centre for Religious Literacy in World Affairs has reported that the attacks took place at the beginning of 2015 following the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.

The image in question in the Paris attacks showed the Prophet Mohammad on a magazine cover, which was thought to trigger protests, leading to anti-Christian violence in the predominantly Muslim West African country.

Reports from the country said ten people lost their lives during the attacks in January and more than seventy churches were destroyed, as well as numerous Christian schools and organisations, including two orphanages.

The Centre for Religious Literacy in World Affairs also said at least thirty Christian homes were also looted and burnt down.

Six months on, the reconstruction work is moving slowly and proving expensive.

Most damaged churches and properties are still not rebuilt, and the financial support promised by the state is not filtering through.

Revd Jacques Kangindé, leader of the Roundabout church said: "Since these incidents, it is as if life had stopped.

"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."

He added that some people feel abandoned: "We feel that, as the emotion of the first days has now passed, our case is no longer of interest to our political leaders.

"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."

Chrisitans in the country say this proves security forces are not able to properly protect the faithful and their properties, according to The Centre for Religious Literacy in World Affairs.

World Watch Monitor has reported that there were no forces around the capital's main churches - except the Catholic Cathedral, where a heavy police presence was installed.

According to a survey by the US NGO, Samaritan's Purse, it says people are sufferingg serve trauma.

Revd Jadi lost his house and his church: "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.

"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."

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