Monday, June 4, 2018

Attention: Members of Canadian Parliament: Conservative MP David Anderson has written a report on the state of freedom of religion in Nigeria. - Rev. Max Solbrekken

#FreedomforSharibu
The Boko Haram terrorist group released 100 girls in March but did not release young Sharibu because of her faith. She refused to renounce her faith when asked to do so by the terrorist group resulting in her detention. It is saddening that she is still in the hands of the terrorist group months later.
Thousands of Christians have died in the course of their faith at the hands of the same group.
No Christian should suffer persecution, discrimination or death for the simple act of professing the Christian faith. I join their sorrow for the lost souls of the unreasonable Boko Haram.
I also ask you, president Buhari, to take a decisive action and end this kind of persecution against innocent Nigerian Christians and help release Sharibu.
The situation for believers in northern Nigeria is dire.
Thousands of Christians have been killed or abducted by Boko Haram, the militant Muslim group in northern Nigeria. This group claims to have established a "caliphate" (Islamic state).
Christians have also been the target of Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen in Nigeria. This group has destroyed hundreds of churches and killed thousands of Christians.
All across the twelve northern states of Nigeria, where Islamic law has been adopted, Christians are frequently discriminated against. Christian villages often lack clean water and health clinics, and Christians are denied access to secondary school and higher education.

In March this year, Boko Haram abducted 105 girls in Dapchi, all of whom they "asked" to convert to Islam.
Out of all the abducted girls, only one schoolgirl - Leah Sharibu - refused to renounce her faith. Boko Haram thus refused to release her after releasing the rest.
Leah Sharibu refused to accept Islam, resisting the entreaties of her classmates to pretend to do so. This her parents learned from a conversation with those who were released.
Leah asked her friends to tell her parents to pray for her, they said.
"Boko Haram did not release my daughter because the young woman refused to abandon her faith to embrace the Muslim religion," said the mother of Sharibu.
The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, pointed out on Twitter the following:
"It is disheartening that one of the girls, Leah Sharibu, remains in captivity (...) We will do everything in our power to recover Leah safely (...) It will not be abandoned." Up to date, there is no news about the young heroine or updates on efforts being made to rescue her. This is very heart wrenching, especially for her mother.
Besides Leah Sharibu, thousands are being massacred and kidnapped by Boko Haram and the Fulani Herdsmen due to their faith. We want to see an end to the persecution and murder of those who simply profess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is time to stop this massacre of Christians! Is it right that thousands are being killed in Nigeria just because they profess Christ? Let's call on the Nigerian president to stop it.
Yours in Christ,
David Cooke and the entire CitizenGO Team
P.S. Jesus said, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10). The faithfulness of young Sharibu is truly remarkable. She is a girl of great courage. Let's pray for her and sign the petition to encourage the president of Nigeria to act.
P.P.S. Conservative MP David Anderson has written a report on the state of freedom of religion in Nigeria. It is worth reading: