The Global Imams Council (GIC) has strongly denounced the recent terrorist attack on a church in Komanda town, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that left more than 40 worshippers dead. The victims, including 19 women, 15 men, and nine children, were participating in a night vigil when suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants launched the deadly assault.
In a statement issued Monday, the GIC described the attack as a heinous criminal act and a blatant violation of both divine laws and international humanitarian principles. The council emphasized that any assault on places of worship is an affront to the sanctity and dignity of human life.
“This criminal act constitutes a blatant violation of all divine laws and international conventions which prohibit assaults on places of worship and uphold the sanctity and dignity of human life,” read the statement.
Quoting the Qur’an, the GIC underscored Islam’s categorical rejection of violence, referencing the verse that states: “Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land — it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.”
The Council extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the broader Christian community in the DRC. They called on Congolese authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. The GIC also urged the international community and human rights organizations to take a firm stance against such crimes, warning that such violence threatens civil peace and social cohesion.
In the same raid, nearby shops and homes were looted and set on fire. The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group, is now active in eastern Congo and has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State’s Central African Province. The group is notorious for attacks on civilians across religious lines.
Vivian van de Perre, deputy chief of the United Nations mission in Congo (MONUSCO), condemned the killings as a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The Congolese military described the attack as an attempt to distract from ongoing joint military operations with Uganda targeting the ADF. Citizens have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
