OIC decries mosque massacre in Central African Republic

By Ammar al-Khalafi

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned a deadly attack on a mosque in the Central African Republic that more than 20 Muslim worshippers dead.

The incident occurred when the Christian anti-Balaka militia broke into the mosque in the country’s southeast during the weekly Friday prayers, killing more than 20 worshippers.

In a statement, OIC Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen decried “this criminal incident and continuous violence by the anti-Balaka militia”.

He reiterated the OIC support for the Central African Republic and for efforts aimed at restoring security and stability to the country.

Since 2013, thousands of people have been killed in sectarian violence and thousands have fled their homes to seek refuge in neighboring countries.

In a 2015 report, Amnesty International estimated that more than 5,000 people, most of them civilians, have died in sectarian violence in the Central African Republic despite the presence of international peacekeepers.