By MEMRI-
On September 28, 2024, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) claimed that on September 27, its operatives captured and beheaded a Christian, near the village of Lolwa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Ituri province.[1]
A few days later, on September 30, ISCAP claimed that on September 29, its operatives machine-gunned a concentration of pro-Congolese government militia forces, in the village of Bilolo, in the Lubero territory of DRC’s North-Kivu province, killing a militiaman, injuring others, causing the rest to flee, and seizing a rifle and ammunition. The statement added that subsequently, the ISCAP operatives attacked Christians in the same village, killing 14, capturing five and seizing possessions.[2]
These attacks follow an article from issue 462 of ISIS weekly magazine Al-Naba’, released on September 26, which claimed that dozens of Christians from the Ituri province converted to Islam after being captured by ISCAP, and were later released to their homes with a message calling on other Christians to convert “in order to safeguard their blood and property.”[3]
[1] Telegram, September 28, 2024.
[2] Telegram, September 30, 2024.
[3] See MEMRI JTTM Report: ‘Exclusive’ Report In Islamic State (ISIS) Weekly: Dozens Of Captive Christians Converted To Islam In Democratic Republic Of Congo, Sent Home To Call On Others To Convert Or Face Death: ‘ISIS Operatives Would Rather Guide People Into Islam Than Kill Them,’ September 27, 2024.
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Dozens Of Captive Christians Converted To Islam In D. R. Of Congo, Sent Home To Call On Others To Convert Or Face Death
Issue 462 of Islamic State (ISIS) weekly magazine Al-Naba’, released on September 26, 2024,[1] included an “exclusive” report claiming that dozens of Christian villagers in Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), “converted” to Islam after being taken prisoner.
17 Christians, Military Personnel, Militiamen Killed In Operations This Week In DRC’s Ituri Province
The report tallied the operations of the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) in the week of September 18-24, previously claimed through ISIS’s official dissemination channels. The attacks in Ituri Province targeted Christian populations in various villages, killing several by gunfire, and in most cases capturing and beheading them upon identification as Christians. Other operations listed in the report purportedly targeted Congolese army outposts, as documented in claims of responsibility and photosets ISCAP released on September 23, 2024.[2]
Captive Christians Converted To Islam, Saving Their Lives
An “exclusive source” told Al-Naba’ that as part of ISCAP’s preaching activities, dozens of Christians converted to Islam and thus “preserved” their lives, after falling captive in operations across various villages in Ituri Province.
The source added that the mujahideen taught the prisoners the Islamic faith, as well as a set of obligations and teachings before releasing them.
Message To Christians: “Convert To Islam And Safeguard Your Blood And Property”
The source further reported that ISCAP operatives entrusted the released prisoners with a message calling on Christian villagers to convert to Islam “in order to safeguard their blood and property.” The ISCAP message stressed that “the Caliphate soldiers are keen on guiding people [to Islam] more than on killing them.” The report was accompanied with an “exclusive” photo of an ISCAP operative showing the converted prisoners how to pray.
[1] Telegram, September 26, 2024.
[2] See MEMRI JTTM Report: Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) Documents Constant Attacks On Christian Territories In Democratic Republic Of Congo’s Ituri Province, North Kivu’s Lubero Territory, September 24, 2024.
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Islamic State Central Africa Province ISCAP Targets Christians In Northeastern DRC
On October 1, 2024, Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) released six graphic photos documenting Christian casualties as a result of an attack carried out by the group’s operatives on a Christian village, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Lubero Territory.[1]
In the released photos, 10 victims are shown shot, execution style, in the head, and others were shot differently.
Documenting Previously Claimed Attack
The attack, which was documented in the released photos, followed a statement the group issued on September 30.[2]
The statement reported that on September 29, the group’s operatives assaulted a Christian village in Lubero territory, in which 14 Christians were killed, five were captured, while ISCAP fighters seized some of the villagers’ possessions.
ISCAP attacks on Christian villages in northeastern DRC have been an ongoing trend. Recently, the group claimed it had captured and beheaded a Christian in DRC’s Ituri province.[3]
These attacks follow an article from the Islamic State (ISIS) weekly magazine, Al-Naba’, published on September 26, 2024, in which the group claimed that dozens of Christian villagers had converted to Islam in Ituri, after being taken prisoner by ISCAP.[4]
[1] Telegram, October 1, 2024.
[2] Telegram, September 30, 2024.
[3] See JTTM Special Report: Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) Claims Killing 15 Christians, Capturing Five In Two Attacks On Villages In Northeastern DRC, October 1, 2024.
[4] See JTTM Special Report: ‘Exclusive’ Report In Islamic State (ISIS) Weekly: Dozens Of Captive Christians Converted To Islam In Democratic Republic Of Congo, Sent Home To Call On Others To Convert Or Face Death: ‘ISIS Operatives Would Rather Guide People Into Islam Than Kill Them,‘ September 27, 2024.
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These reports are complimentary offering from MEMRI’s Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
https://www.memri.org/jttm/islamic-state-central-africa-province-iscap-claims-killing-15-christians-capturing-five-two
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