By Sola Ojewusi
February 23, 2025 – Washington, D.C.
The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee (OPAC) has condemned the brutal massacre of 70 Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling it a “heinous act of religious persecution” and urging immediate global intervention.
On February 13, 2025, militants from the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) stormed the Lubero district, forcibly removing innocent men and women from their homes. The victims were taken to a Protestant church in the village of Kasanga, where they were beheaded. The attack, carried out within a sacred place of worship, has sent shockwaves through the local Christian community and forced thousands to flee in fear.
“This barbaric act is a direct assault on religious freedom and human rights,” OPAC stated. “The silence of the international community in the face of such atrocities is unacceptable. The world must not stand idly by while innocent Christians are slaughtered for their faith.”
The attack has destabilized the region, leading to the closure of churches, schools, and health centers. OPAC is calling on world governments, human rights organizations, and faith communities to condemn the attack and take immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“Religious persecution anywhere is a threat to religious freedom everywhere,” OPAC emphasized. “ISIS and its affiliates must be stopped. Justice must be served.”
The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee, an advocacy group for global Orthodox Christians, continues to champion the protection of persecuted Christian communities worldwide. It urges all people of goodwill to demand justice, accountability, and security for those facing religious persecution.
For more information on this organization, visit www.orthodoxpac.org.
