Attacks on Christians

There is sad news to report today. In Iraq, recent attacks on Christian civilians have left three people dead. There were two attacks. In the first, attackers broke into a home in Kirkuk and slit the throats of a woman and her daughter-in-law. And in a nearby neighborhood, a group of soulless cowards with guns shot a father and his three sons, one of whom died.

Threats have been made in Mosul that Christians are to either convert to Islam or be killed.

Full story here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/26/iraq.christian.attacks/index.html

This is just disgusting.

Christians and Jews - referred to as "people of the Book" in the Quran - are supposed to be recognized as righteous people by Islam.

"And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book [Jews and Christians], those who believe in God, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to God: They will not sell the Signs of God for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord, and God is swift in account. (The Noble Quran, 3:199)"

"Those who believe (in the Quran),and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians, - any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (The Noble Quran, 2:62)"The cowards who perpetrated these attacks are obviously defying the Quran by illegitimately attacking Christians.

Here's another thought:
"If anyone harms (others), God will harm him, and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him." Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1625.

These malicious attackers, if they have any faith at all, can rest assured that they will receive their just punishment. But we can hope that they will recognize that their actions are unjust. They might want to re-read the book they claim to revere so highly.