ICC Note:

“Resentment against the West and Christians is growing stronger, even though no direct threats have been made against individuals,” sources told Asia News. International media have shown Afghans protesting by burning crosses and Christian symbols.

3/14/2012 Afghanistan (AsiaNews) – For some of Afghanistan’s Christians, tensions are running high in the country after a US solider killed 16 civilians in Kandahar. Coming just a few weeks after copies of the Qur’an were burnt on 20 February at the Bagram military, the killing provoked violent protests across the country that left 40 more people dead. Sources tell AsiaNews, that Afghans are exasperated by events like the one in Kandahar, this after 10 years of war pitting international military forces against the Taliban.

“Resentment against the West and Christians is growing stronger, even though no direct threats have been made against individuals,” sources say. “In the capital and provincial cities, foreigners leave their embassies or diplomatic compounds less and less.”

International media have shown Afghans protesting by burning crosses and Christian symbols. For most Afghans, the West and Christianity are the same, the sources note. “Sadly, the crazy act of a madman will be paid by Christians.”

Still, “ordinary Afghans still respect foreigners and are grateful for the work of thousands of volunteers, including Catholics, in the fields of education, health care and business in the past ten years.”

“Muslim extremists are behind the current climate of hatred,” sources explain. “They have been successful in shaping public opinion in a society where illiteracy and ignorance are widespread.”

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