Eight
Christians who were killed when an Islamic State-linked group stormed a
Filipino city late last month were shot to death because of their refusal to
recite the Islamic declaration of faith, government officials have reportedly
said.
According
to the Christian persecution monitoring website Morning Star News, eight Christians who
were among the 19 killed when the IS-aligned Maute Group stormed the city of
Marawi on May 23 were the first Christians killed during the insurgent uprising
in the capital of Lanao del Sur Province on the Mindanao island. The city,
which was once home to over 200,000 residents, has seen thousands of residents
flee in recent weeks.
The
same extremist group claims it is responsible for the kidnapping of as many as
240 Catholics, including Father Teresito "Chito" Suganob, the priest
who appeared in a recently released video in
which he listed off the names of other "prisoners of war" who were
captured by the militants.
Morning
Star News reports that government investigators told local media that the eight
Christians killed in the May 23 assault were laborers who were stopped by
dozens of militants while fleeing to the city of Iligan.
The
investigators explained that the militants tied their hands and asked them to
recite the Shahada. When they refused, the militants shot them. The
investigators added that the militants then placed the bodies into a ditch and
put a sign next to them that read "Munafik," which means traitor or
liar.
The
eight Christians were not the only ones shot and killed for refusing to recite
the Islamic creed. Police inspector Freddie Solar, whose religion was not
identified, also refused and was shot by the militants, according to his wife.
NPR reported on Thursday that as
many as 19 civilians, 39 soldiers and 120 militants have been killed since the
government lost control of the city last month.
According
to Catholic News Agency, the militant group
formed in 2012 and officially pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State in
2015. But the group's violence drastically increased after a failed attempt
from the Filipino military to arrest a local extremist leader by the name of
Isnilon Hapilon.
Since
the assault began in Marawi in May, the Maute Group has burned down a number of
buildings, which include a Catholic cathedral and bishop's residence.
The Associated Press reports that
military spokesman Restituto Padilla said on Tuesday that about 1,000
residents remain trapped in the city and over 900 have been rescued by
government forces. Additionally, the military has killed a total of 89
militants and has liberated about 90 percent of the besieged city.
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