Islamic State have demanded that Christians in Africa convert to Islam or accept dhimmi status as a subjugated people under Islamic rule.
The demand came in a statement claiming responsibility for the killing of at least 34 worshippers at a church in Ituri, north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), published on 28 July.
It was reiterated in the 7 August issue of Al Naba, the online publication of Islamic State (IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, Daesh).
At least 34 worshippers were killed by Islamic State fighters in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday 27 July
The initial statement declared, “Let the Christians of Africa and their Crusader armies know that there is no security for you except by Islam or jizya.”
In classical Islam, jizya is a tax paid by non-Muslim “People of the Book” – that is, Jews and Christians – as a sign of their subjugation to their Muslim rulers.
Those who accept such a status are known as dhimmi. They are treated as a conquered and subjugated people who must abide by various restrictions that reinforce their status as non-citizens under Islamic rule.
The editorial of Al Naba praised the fighters of Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) in DRC and Islamic State Mozambique (IS-M) for their campaign of violence against Christians.
It added that Christians in Africa had three “options”: convert to Islam, pay jizya or be killed.
Killing of Christians “a main feature” of Islamic State messaging
According to Caleb Weiss, a senior analyst and expert on Islamist terrorism, the killing of Christians had become “a main feature of propaganda and internal messaging” of IS.
This is especially the case for ISCAP, which is based in Christian-majority DRC.
ISCAP was previously known as the Allied Democratic Forces, but became an IS wilayat (province) between 2017 and 2019.
IS photo showing fighters from Islamic State Central Africa Province pledging allegiance (bay’a) to the central IS leadership [Image credit: Strategic Intelligence Service]
IS-M is also known as Ahlu Sunna Wal Jammah or Al Shabab (not to be confused with the Somali-based Al Shabab, affiliated to Al Qaeda). The group was originally regarded as an extension of the DRC-based ISCAP, but as of 2019 can be regarded as a wilayat in its own right.
Both groups are co-ordinated by the Islamic State Al Karrar Office in Somalia, which is headed by Abdulqadir Mumin, believed by some analysists to be the global leader of IS.
Between them, ISCAP and IS-M have killed nearly 8,000 Christians since 2017.
Alberto Miguel Fernandez, Vice-President of the Middle East Media Research Institute, explained, “What we see in Africa today is a kind of silent genocide or silent, brutal, savage war that is occurring in the shadows and all too often ignored by the international community.”
The practices of dhimmi and jizya are no longer officially enforced by the government of any Muslim-majority country. Christians in Raqqa, Syria, were forced to accept dhimmi status by IS in February 2014 after the region became part of the IS caliphate.
In 2022 IS-M threatened Christians and Jews with “endless war” if they did not pay jizya and accept dhimmi status. The group also pledged to kill Muslims who refuse to take up arms against their non-Muslim neighbours.
How you can pray
Ask the Lord, who saves with “a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Psalm 136:12), to preserve His people in their most holy faith even as they endure suffering and threats. Pray that the growing power of jihadists across the African continent will be broken, and that there will be peace for all Africans.
