Christians in Gaza Fear for Their Lives as Muslims Burn Bibles and Destroy Crosses

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Published June 18, 2007

After defeating their rivals in Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, Muslim extremists are focusing their attacks on Christians in Gaza City. Christians in Gaza City have issued an appeal to the international community and a plea for protection against the increased attacks by Muslim extremists.

Father Manuel Musallem, head of Gaza's Latin church, told the AP that Muslims have ransacked, burned and looted a school and convent that are part of the Gaza Strip's small Romany Catholic community. He told the AP that crosses were broken, damage was done to a statue of Jesus, and at the Rosary Sister School and nearby convent, prayer books were burned.

Gunmen used the roof of the school during the fighting, and the convent was "desecrated," Mussalem told the AP.

"Nothing happens by mistake these days," he said.

Father Musalam additionally told The Jerusalem Post that the Muslim gunmen used rocket-propeled grenades (RPGs) to blow through the doors of the church and school, before burning Bibles and destroying every cross they could get their hands on.

Catholic Online reports that the heads of Christian churches in the Holy Land have urged both sides to put aside their weapons, noting that the infighting diverted international attention from the national goal of Palestinian independence.

"This domestic fighting where brother draws his weapon against brother is detrimental to all the aspirations of achieving security and stability for the Palestinian people," they said. "In the name of the one and only God as well as in the name of each devastated Palestinian, many of whom are still dying, we urge our brothers in the Fatah and Hamas movements to listen to the voice of reason, truth and wisdom."

One young woman told the Catholic News Service that she was concerned the Islamic extremists would "enforce a strict dress code, forcing women to wear veils and robes." One Christian teenager spoke to the Catholic News Service on the condition that her name not be used. She said the days of fighting had been "very difficult" but they were "OK now."

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/285123/christians_in_gaza_fear_for_their_lives.html?cat=9

[^_^ 5,021]

Those weren't Muslims. No Muslim would do that. Even if people do that say they're Muslim, they're wrong.

[mawilson 2,133]

Those weren't Muslims. No Muslim would do that. Even if people do that say they're Muslim, they're wrong.

Clearly it's Israel's fault.

[alienlovechild 75]

Those weren't Muslims. No Muslim would do that. Even if people do that say they're Muslim, they're wrong.

So it never happened and the whole story is a fabrication.

Edited September 10, 2010 by alienlovechild

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If it happened it says nothing more than people want to believe. Is there a lot of racism, bigotry and prejudice in the middle east? Absolutely. More than in the west? Probably.

This story changes nothing and ultimately signifies nothing, other than that peoples lives are cheap in some parts of the world.

[Peikko 1,575]

If people are determined to confuse nationalism with religious affiliation, this is what you get. Educated in the West you have no excuses for doing it though really.

[Ban Hammer 12,845]

Clearly it's Israel's fault.

bush's fault too.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Perhaps its your fault

[mawilson 2,133]

If it happened it says nothing more than people want to believe. Is there a lot of racism, bigotry and prejudice in the middle east? Absolutely. More than in the west? Probably.

This story changes nothing and ultimately signifies nothing, other than that peoples lives are cheap in some parts of the world.

This story changes everything. It's the first time you admitted that Muslims are more racist, bigoted and prejudiced than Westerners.

We're actually getting somewhere.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

We're not getting anywhere, Mark. All you and Lucky want is to be validated in your mindless prejudices.

[mawilson 2,133]

We're not getting anywhere, Mark. All you and Lucky want is to be validated in your mindless prejudices.

Prejudices? Yes. Mindless? No. All based on facts, my friend.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Your idea of facts backed up by sensationalist news headlines.

[Ban Hammer 12,845]

Perhaps its your fault

it's aj's fault, and then the british.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Prejudices? Yes. Mindless? No. All based on facts, my friend.

word... yo!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yeah that's about the level I expect.