Muslims shelter in the church to save their lives!

The Dhaka Times Desk 1,500 people, most of them Muslim, have taken refuge in a Catholic church in the Central African Republic to escape Christian and fundamentalist militias.

These displaced people took refuge in a cathedral in the southeastern city of Bangasou in the Central African Republic after the violence in mid-May.

"There is no safe situation for them to leave here," said Father Allen Blaise Bisiallo, the parish priest. So they are here, they can't go anywhere. Because there are many gunmen roaming around the city.'

Last month, on May 13-17, anti-Balaka militia forces, mainly made up of Christians, carried out a series of attacks in Tokoyo district, a Muslim-dominated area of Bangasou. Due to which a crisis is created in that area.

When the local residents took shelter in the nearby mosque to escape the attack, the attack was also carried out there. Not only that, they eventually killed the imam of the mosque.

To save the civilians, the Catholic bishops sent trucks to the Tokyo district to bring as many civilians as possible to the church as quickly as possible.

Antoine Mbou Bogo, president of the local branch of the Red Cross, told Al Jazeera last week, "According to the latest estimates, 150 people were killed in the violence in mid-May." However, it is feared that this number may increase further.

Alidou Jibril, who sought refuge in the church, said: 'It is very painful for us. Staying in one place like this day after day, not being able to get out. We are starving.'

Alidou Jibril added, 'We received some food a week after arriving at the church. Anti-Balaka is not even allowing traders to sell food here.'

The Central African Republic has a long history of sectarian conflict. The last Muslim-led Seleka fighters overthrew the country's president in a coup in 2013. In response, anti-Balaka militias, composed of Christians and fundamentalists, began retaliating against Muslims. From then on, their torture began.

It should be noted that Faustin Archange Twadera became the president in the 2016 general election. But he has no control outside the capital. About 14 groups, including some groups called Seleka, control different areas. They maintain roads, collect taxes and even provide police services to the people.