Does Ezekiel 20:26 Teach that the Hebrews Practiced Child Sacrifice to Yahweh?

Yesterday evening, I did a live-stream video podcast with an atheist known on the web as "Pinecreek Doug". For about 40 of the 50 minutes we discussed various aspects of New Testament, and historiographic methodology.

In the last 10 minutes he suddenly changed the subject onto Ezekiel 20, asking me whether verse 26 indicates that the Hebrews practiced child sacrifice. He caught me off-guard and I was not prepared for a discussion of this text. So I said I would prefer to study the text properly first before discussing it. I think apologists do themselves a disservice when they attempt to "wing" a discussion without doing the proper study of the relevant subject first. It is not a good Christian witness to offer half-baked answers without the appropriate research.

I was surprised to see Doug declaring victory over my not being able to give him a response right there and then (someone even commented that he had "trounced" me). I'm sorry, but saying "I haven't studied this text and I would prefer to do so before doing a discussion on it" is not being "trounced". Such behavior is anti-intellectual and anti-scholarly. The Bible is a huge volume of 66 different individual books, and while I study it incessantly, it is difficult to have a detailed ready-made analysis of any possible obscure text that one might bring up -- at least not if you want to do these texts justice. My specialization is historiographic arguments bearing on the veracity of the Scriptures, in particular the New Testament, and I am also interested in the Trinity, Christology and Messianic prophecy. I do not have time at present to specialize in much more than that.

Anyway, I think the use of this text deserves an answer, so in this post I wish to say a few words about Ezekiel 20. Here is the text that Doug quoted:

23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers' idols. 25 Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life, 26 and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the Lord.

I invite readers to go read the chapter as a whole for context. Here are verses 10-26:

10 So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live. 12 Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols. 17 Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness. 18 “I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. 20 Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the Lord.”’

And verses 30-31:

30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? 31 When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day.

So God says quite explicitly that the children of Israel defile themselves "when you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire." And verse 26 says that God "pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire..." We are also told in verses 10 and 11 that "I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live." Instead of choosing the way of life, which is what God desired for the people of Israel, instead they chose to reject God's statutes. Instead, they returned to idols, with which were associated the statutes of death, by which they defiled themselves.

Because the people would not choose God's statutes of life, God then gave them over to their idols' statutes of death. He did so in order that they might know that He is the Lord and He will righteously judge those who reject His commandments which give life. We see the same concept in Romans 1:

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.

Thus, in both Ezekiel 20 and Romans 1, God gave them over to their own evil desires so that they might come to recognize Him as the Lord through His judgment of their wickedness.

Now, one might come back and try to assert that the issue in Ezekiel 20 was not child sacrifice, but rather that the child sacrifice was being done to the idols rather than the Lord God. But this interpretation doesn't fly either. In fact, God specifically condemns child sacrifice in Deuteronomy 12:29-32:

29 “When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ 31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

Here, we learn that the people of Israel are not to serve the Lord in the same manner in which these nations served their idols because these acts, God says, are "abominable" and "the Lord hates" those practices.

In conclusion, it is abundantly clear that God does not command child sacrifice here, as even a cursory reading of the context reveals.

Recording of Webinar with Yusuf Ismail on "Does the Qur'an Promote Peace or Aggressive Violence?"

As previously mentioned, South African Muslim apologist Yusuf Ismail was a guest speaker for my Apologetics Academy webinar series this past Saturday. His topic was "Does the Qur'an Promote Peace or Aggressive Violence?" He spoke for a little over an hour and then took Q&A from the floor for a couple of hours. The recording is embedded above.

Debate: Is the Bible a Book of Peace? (David Wood vs. Shabir Ally)

Is the Bible a book of peace? Christians point to Jesus' commands to "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" to prove that Christianity is a religion of peace. However, the Bible also contains reports of Joshua invading the land of Canaan, Saul fighting the Amalekites, etc. So what's the Biblical position on peace and violence? In this debate, David Wood and Shabir Ally examine the texts to get to the truth.

Eric Allen Bell vs. Nadir Ahmed: "Is Islam Inherently Violent?"

Eric Allen Bell learned only recently that Islam isn't as peaceful as the media would like us to believe (and Eric was part of the media trying to convince us that "Islamophobia" is the real problem in the West). Nadir Ahmed has been trying to revive his debate career after a series of defeats, so he challenged Eric to a debate. They debated the topic "Is Islam Inherently Violent?" on The Jamie Glazov Show.

Eric Allen Bell vs. Nadir Ahmed: "Is Islam Inherently Violent?" from Eric Allen Bell on Vimeo.

Nadir has had debates on similar topics with me (click here to watch) and with Sam Shamoun (click here to watch).

Muslim Woman Jameela Barnette Shot and Killed after Attacking Georgia Police

Jameela Barnette condemned Congressional hearings on terrorism and violence in Islam, but she died attacking police in an apparent act of "Christmas Jihad."

Marietta Woman Linked to Suspicious Package Killed by Officer : MyFoxATLANTA.com

GEORGIA--A Muslim woman who had been charged with sending fake weapons and a pig’s foot to two New York lawmakers was killed during a struggle with a cop in Georgia on Sunday, authorities said.

Jameela Barnette, 53, of Marietta, was slapped with federal charges last month for sending New York State Sen. Greg Ball (R,C-Patterson) a vial of perfume, a hate-filled letter and a doll of the monkey Curious George wearing two Stars of David.

She had also mailed a pig’s foot to Rep. Peter King (R-L.I.) in response to controversial hearings he held in March on the purported radicalization of American Muslims, Politico has reported.

A spokesman for Cobb County Police said an armed Barnette was shot to death after officers responded to a panic alarm she activated at her apartment at 11 a.m. Christmas Day.

When the cops arrived, Barnette opened the door while wielding a knife and a handgun and assaulted an officer with the blade, the spokesman said.

The unnamed officer shot her, killing Barnette at the scene, police said.

"Despite receiving injuries to his arm, the officer was able to use his service weapon to stop the assault," the spokesman said.

The cop was treated for minor injuries to his arm and placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Police said they did not know why Barnette triggered the alarm.

Barnette railed to several media outlets against what she called anti-Muslim congressional hearings last spring. She told a local TV station she sent Ball, who represents Putnam County and parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties, the threatening package because he’s racist toward her faith and supported King’s hearings.

“I knew the Jews were behind the hearings,” she told Politico. “A monkey is a representation of who the Jews are.”

A judge released Barnette without bail after her arrest in November.

Both Ball and King are Catholic. (New York Daily News)

Muslim Hits Man with Tire Iron for Criticizing Islam . . . in Wisconsin

Our leaders and the media continue to assure us that Muhammad's violent teachings couldn't possibly lead to actual violence. Reality keeps getting in the way of their claims, though.

WAUSAU, Wis (WSAU)--A man was attacked on Wausau's east side on Friday afternoon during a reported argument over religion. Witnesses to the attack in the 600 block of Jefferson Street say a man got out of his vehicle, accosted the victim and claimed he had criticized his Muslim religion. The victim denied it but was struck in the head with a tire iron. The attacker then escaped in his vehicle.

Wausau police say the victim knew the attacker but no arrest has been made as of yet. The attack remains under investigation.

David Wood vs. Nadir Ahmed: "Does Christianity Promote Violence Towards Non-Christians?"

Yes, it's kind of a ridiculous question. But whenever we point out the violent passages in the Qur'an, Muslims (and many non-Muslims) respond: "Well, the Bible says the same thing!" Hence, in order to show that Christianity and Islam don't actually teach the same thing, here goes. (If you missed our debate on whether Islam promotes violence towards non-Muslims, click here.)

OPENING STATEMENTS


REBUTTALS/CROSSFIRE


Q&A/CONCLUSIONS

Nadir Ahmed vs. David Wood: "Does Islam Promote Violence Towards Non-Muslims?"

OPENING STATEMENTS


REBUTTALS/CROSSFIRE


Q&A/CONCLUSIONS

Former Muslim Tortured in Asylum Center . . . in Norway

Of course, Muslims in Norway are now free to torture all the apostates they want. No one's going to make a fuss. After all, anyone who objects to torturing or killing those who leave Islam must be a racist, Islamophobic bigot. People who criticize Muhammad's teachings are no better than the terrorist Anders Behring Breivik.

NORWAY--At Hå asylmum centre, "Ali" had boiling water poured over him after converting to Christianity and not fasting during Ramadan. Now he and other converts fear for their lives.

"If you do not return to Islam, we kill you," was the message "Ali" got from other Muslims at the Hå asylum centre. He does not wish to have his face or real name published, out of fear of the Muslims at the centre. If Afghan authorities come to know about his conversion, he risks the death penalty by stoning if he is sent back to his home country. (Read more.)

Muslims Execute 16 Pakistani Police Officers

***WARNING*** EXTREMELY GRAPHIC VIDEO

On June 1, the Taliban crossed the border from Afghanistan and raided the Shaltalu area of the district of Dir in northwestern Pakistan. This video shows the execution of more than a dozen Pakistani policemen who were captured during the fighting. The Taliban leader gives a speech prior to executing the Pakistani men:

"These are the enemies of Islam who originated from Pakistan. They are the Pakistani police, soldiers and their supporters who recently lined up six kids in Swat and shot them execution style. These Pakistanis are now our captive and we will avenge the death of the children by doing the same to them."

***UPDATE*** GreekAsianPanda is having an incredibly difficult time understanding how this video is at all relevant to this blog. Muslims executing Muslims for allegedly killing Muslim children apparently has nothing to do with Muslims, so the video is completely irrelevant to anyone's concerns about violence in the Muslim world. GAP has interpreted the mere fact that I posted the video as somehow meaning that I support police officers who kill children and demand that such officers be exempt from punishment. I've tried to explain things, but maybe someone else would have better luck. (Note: I seriously doubt that these police officers killed children. The Taliban throws charges at anyone they kill.)

Egyptian Sheikh on Killing Muhammad's Critics

Muslim Woman Samira Abdalla Salim Arrested for Stabbing People at Library

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WCCO) — Two people were stabbed in a seemingly random attack at a Twin Cities library.

After the incident Wednesday night at the Oxboro Library in Bloomington, 35-year-old Samira Abdalla Salim was arrested.

Salim was no stranger to the Oxboro Library. She had a reputation for handing out the Koran and talking religion outside the building.

“They had some issues with her harassing other patrons,” said Bloomington Police Commander Mark Stehlik.

But it’s what investigators say she did on Wednesday night that surprised everyone.

“I never thought she would do that. She was very nice,” said Anisa Ahmed, Salim’s neighbor.

Salim is accused of stabbing two people. The first victim was a woman who was walking into the library.

“The next thing she knew, she felt a sharp pain in the middle of her back and realized she had been stabbed,” said Stehlik.

The second was a security guard who heard the victim’s cry for help. He went to talk to Salim in the parking lot.

“Spoke to her briefly and then she actually stabbed him as well. Stabbed him in the abdomen,” said Stehlik.

Because Salim lived next door to the library, witnesses identified her right away and she was arrested in minutes.

“Nobody was worried about her committing a violent act,” said Stehlik.

Fourteen-year-old Ahmed lives next door to Salim and only knows a friendly lady whose kids were friends with her sisters.

“She’d greet us every morning … and she’d get to know us,” said Ahmed.

Now the question everyone wants answered is why a woman who was not seen as a threat suddenly became violent.

“It’s unusual. Somebody minding their own business, walking into library, it doesn’t happen too often where they become victim of assault like this,” said Stehlik.

The victims had minor injuries. Police say they weren’t stabbed with a knife but a sharp, pointy object. (Source)

Greek Asian Panda coming to remind us that this violence has nothing to do with Islam in three . . . two . . . one . . .

Nigeria: Muslims Slaughter Christians and Burn Christian Homes

Notice the following BBC report attributes the bloodshed to "power struggles and land disputes." The violence never has anything to do with Islam.

BBC--At least 16 people have been killed in an attack on a predominantly Christian village in northern Nigeria.

Police said late on Friday that unidentified assailants had also burnt a number of houses in the village in Bauchi state, near Tafawa Balewa.

Bauchi is in Nigeria's middle belt, where the predominantly Muslim north meets the mainly Christian south.

There are long-standing tensions in the area rooted in power struggles and land disputes, correspondents say.

This has caused violence in the past between indigenous Christian or animist groups, and Muslim settlers from the North.

Hundreds have died in clashes in Nigeria following national elections last month in which Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Christian, won the presidential poll against a Muslim, Muhammadu Buhari.

The worst of the violence was in Bauchi and Kaduna states. (Source)

Muslim Convert James A. Larry Gets Life in Prison after Murdering Family for Rejecting Islam

So Larry will get a life of prison dawah to help other inmates convert to Islam, just as he converted to Islam in prison before murdering his family in the name of Islam.

CHICAGO--A man who was angry that his family would not go along with his conversion to Islam was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday in the slayings of his mother, pregnant wife, infant son and two nieces in a rampage last year on the South Side.

James A. Larry, 33, of Madison, Wis., pleaded guilty last month to multiple counts of murder, attempted murder and the intentional homicide of an unborn child.

The bald, bearded defendant issued a quiet apology in Judge James Linn's courtroom, as several surviving members of the family stood at a podium and clutched one another.

"I'm sorry for what I did to my family," Larry said, standing in a tan jail jumpsuit, his hands clasped behind his back. "I regret it every day, and I pray for them."

Family members chose not to submit victim-impact statements for the judge to consider and declined to speak after the hearing, telling a court liaison they were simply relieved the case was over.

Prosecutors said Larry came to Chicago in April 2010 bent on slaughtering his relatives at the home in the Marquette Park neighborhood. He had converted to Islam while serving a prison sentence in Wisconsin for a weapons conviction.

"He was upset at his wife and their family — he felt disrespected that they would not join his religion," Assistant State's Attorney Jim McKay said. "It didn't matter if they were young or old, pregnant or not. He wanted them dead."

The massacre began in the early morning hours April 14, at the family home in the 7400 block of South Mozart Street. Larry first shot his mother, Leona Larry, 57, as she slept on a sofa in the living room. He then went systematically through three first-floor bedrooms, fatally shooting his wife, Twanda Thompson, 19; his 7-month-old son, Jihad; his 3-year-old niece, Keleasha Larry; and his 16-year-old niece, Keyshai Fields, who was pregnant.

Larry also shot his 13-year-old nephew, Demond Larry, in the face, but the boy survived. The defendant then kicked in the bedroom door of a man who lived in the basement of the home and tried to shoot him, but no bullets fired, prosecutors said.

After Larry's 12-year-old niece awoke to the gunfire and saw her bloodied relatives, she ran out of the house. Larry chased her down the street and fired but missed, prosecutors said. The girl made it to a gas station and called her mom.

When Larry was arrested a short time later, he said to police that Allah told him to kill his family, according to court records. A police report quoted him as saying: "I wish I had more bullets. I wish I had more bullets."

Linn remarked in court that, based on the accounts of the defendant's erratic behavior, he expected to see some evidence of underlying psychiatric issues. But in the end, he said, "there were none." (Source)

Christian Evangelist Abraham Abera Beaten to Death by Muslims in Ethiopia

If a Palestinian had been beaten to death by an Israeli soldier, Muslims would be rioting in the streets around the world right now. But since it's a Christian evangelist being killed by Muslims, don't expect much of a reaction from anyone.

Washington--International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on April 21 four Muslims beat an evangelist to death and assaulted his pregnant wife in Worabe, Ethiopia, an area that is 97% Muslim.

The Muslims lured Evangelist Abraham Abera from Kale Hiwot Church, his home and place of ministry, at 9:30 p.m. They told him that his friend was sick and needed his immediate attention. Abraham left with the men; they turned on him and began to beat him with rods. The minister's wife, Birtukan, saw the men attack her husband and ran to intervene, but the Muslims beat her as well.

Abraham died on the spot and his wife, who sustained a severe head injury, was left unconscious in the street. She was found and taken to a hospital in Butajira, where she regained consciousness on April 22nd and was able to recount the details of the attack. Birtukan spoke with an ICC source and said that she knew two of the attackers. She said that as the Muslims were beating her and her husband, they told them, "You (Christians) are growing in number in our area. You are spreading your message (the gospel). We will destroy you."

Though Birtukan did suffer injuries to her mid-section, her unborn baby did fortunately survive the attack.

The attackers still remain at large. A Christian leader in the area told ICC that the men may not be arrested because the local officials are also Muslims. "Christians in Worabe and its surrounding areas are persecuted at the hands of Muslim radicals, and the local government officials, who are Muslims, don't protect Christians. We urge the higher government authorities [state and federal officials] to intervene and protect us," said the Christian leader.

"The brutal killing of Evangelist Abraham and the beating of his wife, Birtukan, is deeply troubling. We urge the federal government authorities to investigate this latest attack as well as reports of persecution against Christians in the Silte zone," said Jonathan Racho, ICC's Regional Manager for Africa. (Source)

Muslims Burn Homosexuals Alive

While the world condemns Terry Jones for burning a book, we remain silent when Muslims burn human beings.

***WARNING*** Graphic content.

(I'm assuming it will be taken off YouTube in a few hours.)



And when YouTube takes it down, here's another host:



There is disagreement about the correct Muslim method of executing homosexuals (stoning, etc.), but the penalty for the "sin of Lot's people (homosexuality) is clear:

Sunan Abu Dawud 4447—Ibn Abbas reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: If you find anyone doing as Lot’s people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.

Here's a Muslim scholar claiming that, since death is too good for homosexuals, they should be publicly tortured:



Another Muslim scholar tells a homosexual man that, according to Islam, he should be killed:



This Muslim scholar discusses the views of Muhammad's companions on the penalty for homosexuality:



This Muslim scholar takes a while to answer the question, but ultimately agrees that the penalty for homosexuality is death:

Christian Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan Elected Nigerian President, Muslims Riot and Burn Churches

The Qur'an clearly commands Muslims to fight and subjugate non-Muslims.

Qur’an 9:29—Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Imagine the horror when a Muslim candidate loses an election to a Christian.

NIGERIA—Deadly riots erupted across Nigeria's north on Monday as results from presidential elections showed incumbent Goodluck Jonathan had won the contest that reflected deep regional tensions.

Returns from all 36 states and the capital showed Jonathan with more than 22 million votes compared to some 12 million for Buhari.

The rioting began after allegations of rigging in Saturday's vote as results showed sharp divisions between the mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south of Africa's most populous nation.

Jonathan condemned the violence in a statement.

"I have received with great sadness the news of sporadic unrest in some parts of the country which are not unconnected with last Saturday's elections," he said, appealing to those involved "to stop this unnecessary and avoidable conduct".

Residents reported that a home belonging to Vice President Namadi Sambo was among those set alight in the northern city of Zaria and a mob sought to burn a Christian woman alive in another area.

Churches were also burnt and a prison was raided, with a number of inmates escaping, residents said. Mobs roamed in a number of states, armed with sticks and burning bonfires in the streets.

An unspecified number of people were killed in Kano when homes and shops were attacked, in Gombe when a home was set ablaze and in Kaduna, where mobs had stopped people on the highway.

A spokesman for the national emergency management agency, Yushau Shuaib, confirmed deaths occurred in those incidents, but declined to provide figures out of fears of reprisals. (Read more.)

Islamophobophobia: Politically Correct Persecution

ISLAMOPHOBOPHOBIA (noun)--an irrational fear of an irrational fear of Islam.

Muslims Murder Buddhist Monk in Thailand

The Qur'an commands Muslims to fight unbelievers:

Qur’an 9:123—O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).

Earlier in the same chapter, the Qur'an defines "fighting" as "slaying":

Qur’an 9:111—Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden; they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain.

It should come as no surprise that such teachings are still driving the violent murders of non-Muslims around the world.

PATTANI, Thailand -- Police say suspected Muslim militants have fatally shot a Buddhist monk in a drive-by motorcycle attack in insurgency-plagued southern Thailand.

Police Maj. Gen. Rapeepong Sukpaiboon says two militants carried out the attack Saturday in the Kok Pho district of Pattani province. Two other people were wounded, including another monk.

In a separate attack in nearby Kapo district, police Maj. Gen. Klanarong Phueakkumgrit says insurgents detonated a roadside bomb as a military truck passed by, wounding three soldiers.

Pattani is one of three Muslim-majority provinces in southern Thailand that have been wracked by an insurgency that flared in 2004 and has claimed more than 4,00 lives since then. (Source)

Ethiopian Muslims Kill Christian, Burn Churches and Christian Homes in Ongoing Attacks

Washington--International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that today Muslims killed one Christian, burned down another eight churches, a bible school, and 17 Christian homes in stepping up their attacks against Christians in Asendabo, Ethiopia.

Yesterday ICC reported that the attacks started on March 2 after Muslims accused Christians of desecrating the Qur'an. Today's attacks bring the total number of razed churches to 13. More than 150 Christians are now without homes. The attacks have spread to the villages surrounding the town of Asendabo.

Christians are calling on the government of Ethiopia for protection. The Ethiopian government sent federal security forces but they couldn't control ten thousand rioting Muslims from continuing their attacks.

Asendabo is a town located in Jimma Zone, Western Ethiopia. Western Ethiopia was the scene of violent attacks against Christians in 2006 when Muslims killed more than a dozen Christian and burned down several churches. The attacks forces thousands of Christians to leave their homes.

"Ethiopian officials have a responsibility to protect their citizens from attacks. It is outrageous and a violation of their obligation under international human rights law for the government to let Muslims kill Christians and destroy their property. We ask that those concerned would contact the Ethiopian embassy to express their concern and ask for government intervention," said Jonathan Racho, ICC's Regional Manager for Africa. (Source)