Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Davao (Agenzia Fides) - "The network of Islamic jihadism and its international implications should be kept under strict control in the southern Philippines" says to Fides Agency the Jesuit Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, Director of the Institute for dialogue at the university of Davao, a city on the island of Mindanao.
In the southern Philippines the terrorist group of Islamic inspiration "Abu Sayyaf" has announced that it has two German hostages (74 and a 55-year old tourists, abducted in April 2014) in its hands, and threaten the beheading if by October 10, Germany will not pay 4 million euro and if it does not stop its cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.
"It is true that Abu Sayyaf is a small group. But this adherence to international campaigns is dangerous and should be monitored. It is likely that there is no direct relationship of meetings with other international terrorist groups, it is a relationship mediated by the connections of the mass media and new technologies.
But groups like Abu Sayyaf act by imitation and seem to have regained momentum", explained Fr. Alejo to Fides. "This way of behaving with the mentality of a network gives rise to concern. Small groups find fertile ground among young Muslims. This network of terror must be opposed with a network of solidarity and dialogue in civil society", adds the religious. "In the southern Philippines for example, Catholic schools and parishes must be united - continues Fr. Alejo - one has to unite village chiefs. We urgently need a strategy of coordinated communication, to reactivate a circle of positive and constructive communication, because every conflict is the result of a wrong message". The Jesuit concludes: "It is essential to correct the violent images and prejudices in the southern Philippines, by proposing good practices of dialogue and peace". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 01/10/2014)
