A week of sectarian violence across Northern Nigeria has left over 100 dead and 30 churches burned, as Muslim mobs attacked Christians allegedly in protest over the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad. The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria, has warned that the violence may escalate if the government does not step in to protect Christians.

The recent violence also includes an attack on the wife and children of the Bishop of Jos, who were severely beaten and their home ransacked.

The Rev. Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of the Barnabas Fund, reported a spike in Muslim attacks on Christians in the past week. In Iraq, at least four churches have been bombed and Christian university students assaulted; in Lebanon, Libya and Syria churches have been attacked; in Turkey a Roman Catholic priest has been murdered in his church; and in Pakistan, six Christian schools and a hospital were damaged by Muslim rioters.

“It is interesting that when Muslims attack Western embassies it is news, and when Christians retaliate against Muslim violence it is news. But when Muslims attack vulnerable Christian minorities to take revenge for publishing cartoons that are nothing to do with the Christian victims, it is barely mentioned in the media,” Dr. Sookhdeo said.

In response to the weekend's violence, Archbishop Akinola released a statement on Feb. 20 warning Muslims that Christian forbearance and the desire for “peaceful co-existence” must not be “sadly misunderstood to be weakness.

“We have for a long time now watched helplessly the killing, maiming and destruction of Christians and their property by Muslim fanatics and fundamentalists at the slightest or no provocation at all,” Archbishop Akinola wrote. “Peace is absolutely necessary for realizing our dreams and aspirations for Nigeria.”

But Archbishop Akinola also sought to remind “our Muslim brothers that they do not have the monopoly of violence in this nation,” and the Church “may no longer be able to contain our restive youths” should attacks on Christians continue.

Dr. Sookhdeo, a convert from Islam to Christianity and a priest of the Church of England, agreed, noting, “peaceful conduct is all too often seen as weakness by Muslims.”

If Western governments and Church leaders “will not condemn the anti-Christian violence or even publicize it, can they be so surprised when non-Western Christians–goaded beyond endurance–finally fight back?” Dr. Sookhdeo said.

The deputy director of Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA), the Rev. Canon Les Martin, reported that on Feb. 17 approximately 20 armed men wearing masks stormed Bishopscourt, the home of the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Kwashi, Bishop of Jos. Demanding to know where the bishop was, the gunmen beat and assaulted Mrs. Gloria Kwashi and her two sons. They also robbed and beat the bishop's secretary at the diocesan offices. Mrs. Kwashi is presently in intensive care.

Bishop Kwashi wrote to supporters that the attack had “opened my eyes to see...that the host of the army of those on their knees on our behalf far outnumber...those who wish us harm."

Bishop Kwashi serves as a special advisor on youth matters to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and the attack may have had political as well as religious motivation.

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