Cleric Decries Int’l Silence on Massacre of CAR Muslims
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A senior Iranian cleric deplored the silence of international organizations following the recent mass killing of Muslims in the Central African Republic (CAR), and warned against a rising tide of vicious plots to spread Islamophobia in the world.
Addressing a large congregation of worshippers here in Tehran, Tehran's Provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ahmad Khatami voiced concern about a surge in the killing of Muslims in the Central African Republic, and stressed, “The international organizations are silent on the acts of genocide, and an institution has announced that no Muslim will remain in the CAR if the situation continues like this.”
He also blamed the global arrogant powers for promoting anti-Muslim sentiments, saying the main reason behind the hostile plots to spread Islamophobia was the growing “wave of Islamic uprisings.”
“In the Central African Republic, 30 percent are Christian and 15 percent Muslims. They (enemies) pitted the fanatical and extremist Christians against the Muslims. They (extremist Christians) kill (Muslims) brutally with machete and cleaver, mutilate and burn (Muslims to death),” the cleric warned.
In relevant remarks on February 25, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian blamed the massacre of Muslims in CAR on the interference made by certain foreign countries, and said the extremist moves against Muslims are the result of plots to foment Islamophobia.
“What we witness in the Central African Republic is the result of wrong policies and meddling by certain foreign sides,” he said at the time.
“The killing of the innocent Muslims of the Central African Republic is the outcome of flaring the religious zeal among the people who have lived in peace for tens of years,” he explained.
Amir Abdollahian also denounced extremist moves, whether in the name of Islam or Christianity, and explained, “Christian extremism in the Central African Republic can be considered as the continuation of the very same ominous phenomenon of extremism among Muslims.”
The deadly violence continues as 1,600 French soldiers alongside 6,000 African peacekeepers have been deployed in the country to end clashes between Christian militia and the Muslim minority.
However, many say the French troops are turning a blind eye on crimes committed by Christian militiamen.
The recent violence in the country has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people.