By Yiep Joseph
Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Turalei Payam of Twic County, Warrap State, has been set ablaze, while believers beaten by irate community over rivalry.
Director of Information and Communication for Greater Bahr El Ghazal field of Adventist Church, William Wol Adewun, confirmed the retrogressive event.
“They (the community) say they do not want the church. They came and attacked, beat the believers, and burnt down the church,” Wol said.
Speaking to this outlet, Wol condemned the incident that occurred on Saturday and called for protection of religious rights.
Wol said, the community members who attacked the believers during morning mass, had earlier threatened the Adventist church to quit the area.
“They (the community) were complaining that they do not want this church (Adventist Church),” he stressed.
Above the warning signs, the believers insisted that those who oppose Christian faith should stay away and worship God in their own manner.
“They (believers) say let us worship because we are part of the community and we have a right to also worship, as you do in your shrines,” Wol explained.
Wol claimed that the violence was incited by a local chief who felt threatened by the Church, which was gaining popularity compared to the shrines.
At least 11 members of the Seventh Day Adventist church, attacked in a congregation of 50, were badly injured and are receiving treatment in the county hospital.
“Most of the believers were beaten, but those who were with serious injuries have been hospitalized, including the pastor,” Wol said.
Beside the church being in ashes, the sound system, mobile phones of the church members were destroyed.
Wol said that in the recent days before the attack on the church, the county authorities had urged the communities to respect religious freedom as clearly stated in the constitution.
He said, though the police intervened to protect the believers, however, no one was arrested for the crime.
“This morning the beating of the believers was continuing, until the executive director of Twic County intervened, and they (the believers) were finally set free with the warning that they do not want them in the area,” he stressed.
Wol urged the National Government to ensure protection of religious rights across the country, adding that attacks on believers are against the constitution.
Despite Jesus Christ’s suffering on the cross for his followers, the believers, in Turalei, are nursing wounds of torture, as their house of worship, lays in ruins.
However, when contacted, Twic County commissioner, John Mabior Marup declined to comment on the incident.
Mabior maintained that he was not yet briefed by the Executive Director, since he was out of the county headquarters.
“I prefer to be briefed by the executive director and other security organs, then I can talk about what I know because I spent some days outside the county, so I need a briefing from those, and then I will give you the update,” Mabior said.
Till press time, Twic county commissioner had not called back, but we are optimistic of getting updates on the matter, when he calls.
Meanwhile, a silent wave of attacks on believers seem to be rising in recent times, for, instance, on June 13, Warawar Seventh-day Church was burned to ashes by an unidentified man who fled to a nearby bush.
In another incident, on 29 June, a pastor and an elder shot by unknown assailants in Tonj North County. The elder, late succumbed to the gunshots.
These attacks on Church members have prompted activists and human rights advocates to urge the government to improve protection for religious people as well as bringing culprits to book.