World Religious Violence

For an overview of religious violence in the world, see the following. It shows, I think, that violence occurs within and among not Islam vs. other religions but also Xtian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu violence. This fact of life is improtant to remember in the current environment where only a single area of conflict is focused on: the conflict between Islam and Judaim/Xtianity.

Religious Violence Around the World

Afghanistan
Extreme, radical Fundamentalist Muslim terrorist groups & non-Muslims Osama bin Laden heads a terrorist group called Al Quada (The Source) whose headquarters were in Afghanistan. They were protected by, and integrated with, the Taliban dictatorship in the country. Al Quada is generally regarded as having committed many terrorist attacks on U.S. ships, embassies, and buildings. The Northern Alliance of rebel Afghans, Britain and the U.S. attacked the Taliban and Al Quada, establishing a new regime in the country.

Bosnia
Serbian Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholic), Muslims
Fragile peace is holding, due only to the presence of peacekeepers.

Côte d'Ivoire
Muslims, Indigenous, Christian
Following the elections in late 2000, government security forces "began targeting civilians solely and explicitly on the basis of their religion, ethnic group, or national origin. The overwhelming majority of victims come from the largely Muslim north of the country, or are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants..." A military uprising continued the slaughter in 2002.

Cyprus
Christians & Muslims
The island is partitioned, creating enclaves for ethnic Greeks (Christians) and Turks (Muslims). A UN peace keeping force is maintaining stability.

East Timor
Christians & Muslims
A Roman Catholic country. About 20% of the population died by murder, starvation or disease after they were forcibly annexed by Indonesia (mainly Muslim). After voting for independence, many Christians were exterminated or exiled by the Indonesian army and army-funded militias in a carefully planned program of genocide and religious cleansing. The situation is now stable.

India
Animists, Hindus, Muslims & Sikhs
Various conflicts that heat up periodically. In late 2002-FEB, a Muslim-Hindu conflict broke out, killing an average of 100 people a day over the first five days.

Indonesia, province of Ambon
Christians & Muslims
After centuries of relative peace, conflicts between Christians and Muslims started during 1999-JUL in this province of Indonesia. The situation now appears to be stable.

Indonesia, province of Halmahera
Christians & Muslims
30 people killed. 2,000 Christians driven out; homes and churches destroyed.

Kashmir
Hindus & Muslims
A chronically unstable region of the world, claimed by both Pakistan and India. The availability of nuclear weapons and the eagerness to use them are destabilizing the region further. More details Thirty to sixty thousand people have died since 1989.

Kosovo
Serbian Orthodox Christians & Muslims
Peace enforced by NATO peacekeepers. There is convincing evidence of past mass murder by Yugoslavian government (mainly Serbian Orthodox Christians) against ethnic Albanians (mostly Muslim)

Kurdistan
Christians, Muslims
Assaults on Christians (Protestant, Chaldean Catholic, & Assyrian Orthodox). Bombing campaign underway.

Macedonia
Macedonian Orthodox Christians & Muslims
Muslims (often referred to as ethnic Albanians) engaged in a civil war with the rest of the country who are primarily Macedonian Orthodox Christians. A peace treaty has been signed. Disarmament by NATO is complete.

Middle East
Jews, Muslims, & Christians
The peace process between Israel and Palestine suffered a complete breakdown. This has resulted in the deaths of thousands, in the ratio of three dead for each Jew. Major strife broke out in 2000-SEP and is continuing.

Nigeria Christians, Animists, & Muslims
Yourubas and Christians in the south of the country are battling Muslims in the north. Country is struggling towards democracy after decades of Muslim military dictatorships.

orthern Ireland Protestants, Catholics
After 3,600 killings and assassinations over 30 years, some progress has been made in the form of a ceasefire and an independent status for the country.

Pakistan
Suni & Shi'ite Muslims
Low level mutual attacks.

Philippines
Christians & Muslims
Low level, centuries old conflict between the mainly Christian central government and Muslims in the south of the country.

Russia, Chechnya
Russian Orthodox Christians, Muslims
The Russian army attacked the breakaway region. Many atrocities have been alleged on both sides. According to the Voice of the Martyrs: "In January 2002 Chechen rebels included all Christians on their list of official enemies, vowing to 'blow up every church and mission-related facility in Russia'."

South Africa
Animists & "Witches" Hundreds of persons, suspected and accused of witches practising black magic, are murdered each year.

Sri Lanka
Buddhists & Hindus
Tamils (a mainly Hindu 18% minority) are involved in a war for independence since 1983 with the rest of the country (70% Buddhist). An estimated 65,000 have been killed. The conflict took a sudden change for the better in 2002-SEP, when the Tamils dropped their demand for complete independence. The South Asian Tsunami in 2004-DEC induced some cooperation.

Sudan
Animists, Christians & Muslims
Complex ethnic, racial, religious conflict which victimizes both Animists and Christians in the South of the country. Slavery and near slavery practiced. There are allegations of genocide.

Tibet
Buddhists & Communists
Country was annexed by Chinese Communists in late 1950's. Brutal suppression of Buddhism continues.

Uganda
Animists, Christians, & Muslims
Christian rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army are conducting a civil war in the north of Uganda. Their goal is a Christian theocracy whose laws are based on the Ten Commandments. They abduct about 2,000 children a year who are enslaved and/or raped.

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