Mozambique living through record year of persecution

Churches in Africa have seen members beheaded, buildings reduced to ashes, and tens of thousands displaced.

This terror is due to Islamic extremists, CBN News reports.

Some reports say 15 people were beheaded in a single week by militants. 52 young people were killed during this year's Holy Week after refusing to join the Islamic group.

The vast amount of the general public, however, have no idea this is happening or remain indifferent, says Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa from the Mozambique Pemba Diocese.

"The world still has no idea what is happening, because of indifference, and because it seems that we have already become accustomed to wars," Lisboa says.

The bishop says extremists have attacked the church, burning benches and statues inside. An image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom their church was dedicated, was also destroyed.

"Fortunately, they were unable to burn the building itself, only the benches," Lisboa says.

More than 1,100 people have been killed in extremist attacks since 2017 in the country, thanks to a campaign launched to persecute Christians and recruit young soldiers.

Young Christians who refuse to join Islamic forces are punished, often with the loss of their own life.

Mozambique has other dangers. According to the Catholic News Agency, adolescent girls are being abducted into the sex trade. Young boys have also been targeted and face violence or death if they do not comply.

Paulo Rangel, a Portugese member of the European Parliament says they are aware these things are happening in the African country.

Due to so much violence, nearly 250,000 people have fled their homes and are now displaced. Many have left to Pemba, the capital city of the province Cabo Delgado.

Lisboa says 2020 has been the worst year to-date for violent attacks.

"There are many traumas," he says.

They work to provide more than food to their traumatized community members and fellow believers.

"Some people are broken, traumatized with everything they have lived through, so we see that psychological and social support is fundamental," he says.

Armed forces in Mozambique killed 50 extremists in May in the same area 11 attacks against believers had been launched.