According to the anonymous sources, the Islamic extremists have been collecting the money from the Christian adults “with total impunity a few days ago” and that persons “unable or unwilling to obey would have been warned of the alternative: the forced closure of their places of worship.”
There is fear among residents of Mali’s Mopti region that the Christian persecution that started off in the township of Dougouténé and currently in the village of Douna-Pen “will spread to other villages, further threatening religious freedom and local security,” ACN report indicates.
To justify the fear among residents of the affected region of the West African nation, the report explains that “earlier, Islamic extremists had already demanded the closure of churches, Protestant and Catholic, in Douna-Pen. For a time, an uneasy peace allowed residents to practice their faith, albeit without the use of musical instruments during worship services, a clear restriction on their religious freedoms.”
Describing the situation in Mopti region as “already precarious”, the ACN report has the testimony of one of the anonymous sources, who, referring to the religious tax targeting Christian adults, said, "We believe we are living in a secular state where such practices should not thrive but, unfortunately, it is becoming our new reality.”
“If the authorities do not act, the population will pay taxes directly to the coffers of terrorists, who act under the banner of jihadism in the Republic of Mali," the source is quoted as further saying.
The source painted a grim picture of growing crime in Mopti region, saying, "We know that the country is big and actions are being carried out in other places. But if nothing is done in this area, in the short term, the consequences will be disastrous! People here are being killed like rats!"
The ACN October 29 report has the same source appealing for action on the part of the Malian government to take “immediate action” to put an end to the financial extortion that has targeted Christians with the potentiality to trigger “a religious conflict”.
"This is the cry of a citizen who still believes in the Republic of Mali and its leaders," the source told ACN, and added, “We need immediate action to prevent a religious conflict from taking root in this country. May God help us."
Sabrine Amboka contributed to the writing of this story.
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