Brazilian Churches Attacked in Niger

01/19/2015 - 09h12

The wave of attacks in Niger against the cartoon of Muhammad in the current edition of French newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" destroyed on Saturday (17) two Brazilian Presbyterian churches in the capital of Niamey.

Another two churches and a school under the command of missionaries from Brazil, belonging to a Protestant NGO, were also hit, according to Brazilians who live in the city.

The Brazilian community in Niger, estimated to be at least 32 people, was told by the Brazilian government not to leave their homes because of protests seeking out Christian symbols and places linked to the French.

Brazil's embassy in neighboring Benin has considered removing Brazilians from the country if the situation worsens. Preliminary information indicates the possibility that extremist group Boko Haram, from neighboring Nigeria, is linked to the protests.

Two locations of the Viva Presbyterian Church, based in Volta Redonda in Rio de Janeiro, were burned and looted, said Brazilian pastor Roberto Gomes, 36, who is responsible for their administration.

"I'm in shock. I've lived here since 2009 and in Africa for 14 years, and I've never seen anything like this," he said.

He has housed since Saturday (17) the family of Brazilian missionary Jefferson Garcia, 37, coordinator of two churches and a school run by British NGO World Horizon.

Fearing an attack on the NGO's headquarters, where his wife and 3-year-old daughter live, Garcia removed the family's nameplate and sought refuge at the pastor's house.

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

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	Boureima Hama - 18.jan.2015/AFP
	A man holds a hat over his mouth as black smoke billows from tyres set on fire in Niamey