South Philippines Cathedral Bombing
On Jan. 27th Filipino Catholics went to the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, a city in the South Philippines. Reports have revealed that 18 people lost their lives and dozens more were injured. As of now, ISIS is claiming responsibility for the attack, and it is highly probably that they were responsible. For decades, the nation of the Philippines has been fighting against Islamist insurgent groups who have been engaged in an ongoing war to take control of the South Philippines and establish a Sharia State in the region. After the rise of ISIS in Syrian & Iraq, many Jihadist fighters answered the call to arms and went to the Middle East to join ISIS. Now, many of the fighters are coming back to continue the Jihad against the Philippines.
However, Filipino intelligence suggests that the true perpetrators were Abu Sayaff, and Islamist insurgency group that has been active in the region since 1991. This group has committed numerous bombings, shootings, and kidnappings in the regions, causing thousands of deaths. Some members of Abu Sayaff have been pushing for an allegiance with ISIS. Abu Sayaff and other insurgent groups have waged an ongoing insurgency ever since the 1970's for what they claim is their desire to create an autonomous Muslim state, claiming that this is their ancestral homeland dating back to the 13th century when Arab traders first brought Islam to the region. It is believed that the terrorist chose to attack the church after the town of Jolo rejected a referendum calling for the a new Muslim autonomous state in the region. This decades long insurgency has claimed over 120,000 lives with no end in sight. Unfortunately, the goals of the Jihadist insurgents go far beyond establishing an autonomous state. In May of 2001 Christian Missionaries Gracia Burnham and her husband Martin where kidnapped by Abu Sayaff terrorists and held hostage for over a year. During their captivity, they had the chance to speak with Abu Sayaff leaders who told them that establishing an autonomous state in the South Philippines was only the initial goal. Their long-term aspirations entailed gradually taking control over the entire nation, then take to fight to surrounding nations. The terrorist leaders vowed to never stop fighting until the entire world is under Sharia.
Sources:
Beech, Hannah and Jason Gutierrez. "ISIS Bombing of Cathedral in Philippines Shows Group's Reach into Asia. The New York Times. Jan. 28th, 2019. Accessed from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/world/asia/isis-philippines-church-bombing.html.
Burnham, Gracia & Dean Merrill. In the Presence of my Enemies. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2010.
McKirdy, Euan. "Philippines Church Bombing Town on Lockdown as ISIS Threat Reemerges." CNN. Jan. 28th, 2019. Accessed from https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/28/asia/philippines-church-explosion-intl/index.html.
"Philippines Church Bombing: Twin Blasts Hit Jolo Cathedral." Al Jazeera. Jan. 27th, 2019. Accessed from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/bombs-target-church-philippines-jolo-island-190127050818906.html.
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| Bombing of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral |
However, Filipino intelligence suggests that the true perpetrators were Abu Sayaff, and Islamist insurgency group that has been active in the region since 1991. This group has committed numerous bombings, shootings, and kidnappings in the regions, causing thousands of deaths. Some members of Abu Sayaff have been pushing for an allegiance with ISIS. Abu Sayaff and other insurgent groups have waged an ongoing insurgency ever since the 1970's for what they claim is their desire to create an autonomous Muslim state, claiming that this is their ancestral homeland dating back to the 13th century when Arab traders first brought Islam to the region. It is believed that the terrorist chose to attack the church after the town of Jolo rejected a referendum calling for the a new Muslim autonomous state in the region. This decades long insurgency has claimed over 120,000 lives with no end in sight. Unfortunately, the goals of the Jihadist insurgents go far beyond establishing an autonomous state. In May of 2001 Christian Missionaries Gracia Burnham and her husband Martin where kidnapped by Abu Sayaff terrorists and held hostage for over a year. During their captivity, they had the chance to speak with Abu Sayaff leaders who told them that establishing an autonomous state in the South Philippines was only the initial goal. Their long-term aspirations entailed gradually taking control over the entire nation, then take to fight to surrounding nations. The terrorist leaders vowed to never stop fighting until the entire world is under Sharia.
Sources:
Beech, Hannah and Jason Gutierrez. "ISIS Bombing of Cathedral in Philippines Shows Group's Reach into Asia. The New York Times. Jan. 28th, 2019. Accessed from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/world/asia/isis-philippines-church-bombing.html.
Burnham, Gracia & Dean Merrill. In the Presence of my Enemies. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2010.
McKirdy, Euan. "Philippines Church Bombing Town on Lockdown as ISIS Threat Reemerges." CNN. Jan. 28th, 2019. Accessed from https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/28/asia/philippines-church-explosion-intl/index.html.
"Philippines Church Bombing: Twin Blasts Hit Jolo Cathedral." Al Jazeera. Jan. 27th, 2019. Accessed from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/bombs-target-church-philippines-jolo-island-190127050818906.html.
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