“Islamic State released a video purporting to show it killing 11 Christian men in Nigeria, saying it was part of a campaign to avenge the deaths of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and its spokesman.”

This endless cycle of revenge is sanctioned by the Qur’an: “And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution. But whoever gives charity, it is an expiation for him. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (5:45)

Of course, these Christians in Nigeria had nothing to do with the killing of al-Baghdadi, but the Islamic State’s targeting of them reveals how they view the conflict: it’s Islam versus Christianity, and thus any Christians can be killed to avenge the death of a Muslim leader.

“Islamic State says it killed 11 Christians in Nigeria,” Reuters, December 27, 2019: