Conversion, Death or Taxes: A Jihadist Jizya threat in the Philipines

Isabela is the capital of Basilan island in the Philipines. The rest of the Island "belongs to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao." [catholic explorer] On July 21, five Catholic parishioners of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Sumisip were kidnapped. On July 23, Martin Jumoad, the Bishop of Isabela received a letter threatening to kill him if he did not pay a protection tax to two mujahedin of al-Harakutul Islamiyya, a name associated with the Abu Sayyaf jihad terrorist gang.

Bishop Martin Jumoad of Isabela also told the Asian church news agency UCA News that he got text messages from Catholics saying they, too, had received threatening letters.

[...] The bishop sent a copy of the letter July 19 to church-run Radio Veritas in Quezon City, northeast of Manila.

The letter had the names "Puruji Indama" and "Nur Hassan J. Kallitut" printed at the bottom and "mujahedin" under each name. The purported senders introduced themselves as "Muslim warriors" who "don't follow any laws other than the Quran," Islam's holy book.

They said Bishop Jumoad should choose to convert to Islam or give "jizya," Islamic tax, to their group in exchange for protecting him in the "place of Muslims."

If he refuses to convert or pay, the letter threatened "force, weapons or war may be used" against him. It warned him not to feel safe even if he is "surrounded by soldiers" and cited bombings in various cities.

Bishop Jumoad was given 15 days to respond, with two mobile phone numbers to contact.

"If we do not receive response from you, it means you will oppose," the letter added. [link]

Unfortunately this is all too typical of the persecution of Christians in lands under the shadow of Islam.

In the meantime, 180 Jihad-enabling US Congress critters (all Democrats) voted to prevent US government agencies from using the word Jihad to describe the vile, foul teachings of Jihad, Mujahedin or Jihadist for those who idolize Jihad, and even caliphate for the totalitarian, murderous, one-world Muslim government those evildoers wish to establish. Read the names of the Jihadist enablers here. Luckily for truth and reason, their side lost the vote.

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Technorati Tags: Jihad, Jizya, Philipines, Basilan