Government warns against Jerusalem Jesus March
Seoul (AsiaNews) The government of South Korea strongly urged South Korean Christian groups to cancel or postpone a peace march in Jerusalem scheduled for next month arguing that such a step was necessary to forestall possible terrorist attacks by Islamist groups.
About 3,000 South Korean Christians belonging to 860 Protestant churches from home and abroad seem unwavering in their intention of taking part in the "Jerusalem Jesus March" planned for August 7-11.
Following an interdepartmental meeting of all ministers involved in security matters, a spokesperson for South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an urgent warning on July 15. Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuk renewed it on Tuesday, July 20. "We have detailed information from the security services," he said, "but we cannot go into them. Never the less, there is credible evidence that Christian missionaries going to Jerusalem will likely be targets of terrorist attacks."
What the security services could not reveal the terrorist group al-Tawhid wa al-Jihad (Unification and Holy war), responsible for the June 22 decapitation of 33-year-old South Korean Kim Sun-il, partly did. The group, which had murdered the young South Korean man because of South Korea's refusal to withdraw its troops from Iraq, acknowledged on Tuesday, July 20, on its website that the murder was done for religious reasons. "We killed an infidel who tried to propagate Christianity in Iraq," the statement read. "This infidel studied theology and was preparing to become a missionary in the Islamic world."
It is feared that the government warning will fall on deaf ears and do little to stop organisers and participants. Mr. Lee insisted that "since they seem decided to go ahead with their plans despite the government's warning, we cannot guarantee their safety." Everyone is waiting with bated breath. (PC)
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