Refuse Islam and you’ll be killed

In a horrifying massacre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo back in May, a militant Muslim group affiliated with ISIS slaughtered 14 Catholics after they refused to convert to Islam.

In condemning the attack, Pope Francis explained that “their throats were slit simply because they were Christians and didn’t want to convert to Islam.” He identified the dead as martyrs: “I would like to stop and thank God for the testimony of martyrdom that a group of Catholics from Congo, from North Kivu, have given in recent days.”

The same Muslim group carried out an earlier attack in this central African nation, where the Catholic News Agency reports that “11 Christians were executed with machetes and rifles on May 13 while several others were kidnapped, and some houses were set on fire.”

Congo’s Christians are being slaughtered and the world is watching. While these incidents are significantly horrific by themselves, they are even worse if we consider a unique reality about Congo: This country’s population is more than 95 percent Christian. This means that, in a majority Christian country, an ISIS-affiliated militant group is capable of attacking Christian villages and churches, slaughtering those who refuse to follow Islam.

What’s more alarming is that this Muslim group executed several attacks in a short time. But it is even worse.

For several years, Islamic terrorism has been on the rise in this region, as evidenced by the bombing of a large Catholic Church in 2021. The Catholic News Agency noted that “a large-scale project is underway to Islamize or expel the Indigenous populations” of the region. Here’s the reoccurring pattern: Muslim terrorists kidnap local Christians and offer them a choice between death or converting to Islam.

We are told that “Not a day goes by without people being killed.”

Undoubtedly, these incidents reflect recklessness and a significant disregard for human life on the part of the Congo government. It must urgently employ stronger security measures to protect Christians by stopping Muslim terrorism in the land.

Despite the horrors of these incidents, one must wonder: Why does this militant Muslim group give Christians a choice between converting to Islam or death? What really drives these Muslims?

The answer is found in Islamic texts, detailing the deeds of Muhammad and his followers.

In Muslim traditions, we read of a man who “did not accept Islam until he was urged on Islam by sword.” Forced conversion to Islam is repeatedly found in Muslim texts. Muhammad reportedly declared, “I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ And if they say so … then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them.”

It’s a clear Islamic precedent that, for Muhammad, non-Muslims must convert or face death. In some cases, they can spare their lives by paying huge sums of money to Muslim attackers. When Muhammad sent his commanders to invade the Christian village of Mu’tah in Syria, he instructed them to “fight those who disbelieve in Allah” and stated that Christians would only have three options: convert to Islam, pay the jizya (poll tax, tribute), or die by the sword.

The Muslim historical accounts are full of stories of Muslim commanders who followed Muhammad’s footsteps in later battles against Christian lands and offered the Christians the same options.

Our world seems ignorant about the driving force behind these massacres executed against Christians worldwide at the hands of Muslim terrorists. Many insist on painting these terrorists as fanatics who are driven mainly by evil desires to kill. However, the reality is clearly different: These terrorists terrify and kill, with a sword in one hand and a “sacred” book in another.

The main reason for killing these Christians is that they don’t want to follow Islam. And Muslim terrorists think of themselves as applying Islam and following the footsteps of their prophet.

Our world will continue to experience these horrifying massacres as long as we dilute the severity of how effective the Muslim texts are on terrorists seeking to apply them by the letter. Meanwhile, Christians continue to be the prey.

And now Muslim terrorists infiltrate majority-Christian lands, like Congo. Is the world really watching? Should the world expect Muslim terrorists to apply similar attacks in other Christian lands?

What may be some practical steps in this regard?

To protect Christians against persecution, we should raise awareness about the extent of persecution worldwide, especially at the hands of Muslim attackers. Importantly, the nations that have power and influence also have a moral responsibility to use them wisely and swiftly to help struggling nations in combating Islamic terrorism. Internationally, protecting Christians against Islamic terrorism is a collective responsibility and an urgent task that requires a united and persistent effort from individuals, organizations, and governments.

These Catholics in Congo chose death over conversion to Islam and gave their lives for their choice. Speak loudly for them. Stand in solidarity with other persecuted Christians worldwide. We’ve got a voice. Let it count.