Over 30 Christians Beheaded

 Over 30 Christians Beheaded in Northern Mozambique Amid ISIS Surge

By: Joshua Thangaraj Gnanasekar- Pilgrim Echoes

Date: 07/10/2025



In a series of brutal attacks in northern Mozambique, ISIS-affiliated militants have beheaded over 30 Christians and destroyed at least seven churches, displacing more than 50,000 residents from Chiure district in recent weeks. These assaults, claimed by the Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP), have drawn international condemnation and highlighted the escalating persecution of Christians in the region.


The militants released 20 graphic photographs documenting the beheadings, shootings, and arson attacks on Christian communities in the Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces. The violence has intensified since late September, with specific incidents reported in Chiure-Velho, Macomia Town, and Nakioto village. In Nakioto, over 100 homes were destroyed, and multiple churches were set ablaze.


According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), the ISMP has taken responsibility for several attacks, including the beheading of two Christians in Chiure-Velho on September 25, the shooting death of a Christian in the same area on September 26, and the deaths of four Christians in Macomia Town on September 28. These acts are part of a broader campaign by the ISMP to target Christian communities, whom they view as symbols of resistance to their ideology.


In response to the escalating violence, Mozambique has renewed a military alliance with neighboring Rwanda. Under the Status of Force Agreement, the Rwandan Defense Force has been deployed in Cabo Delgado since 2021 to combat the insurgency. Despite these efforts, the ISMP’s influence has expanded southward, affecting six districts and contributing to a significant humanitarian crisis.


Since the insurgency began in 2017, over 6,000 people have been killed, and more than one million individuals have been displaced in northern Mozambique. The ISMP’s stated goal is to establish a strict Islamic state, and Christians are increasingly targeted due to their perceived opposition to this objective. Open Doors, a Christian organization monitoring religious persecution, ranks Mozambique as the 37th most dangerous country for Christians in its 2025 World Watch List, up from 39th the previous year.


The international community has expressed grave concern over the situation. Human rights organizations are calling for increased humanitarian aid and stronger measures to protect religious minorities in the region. As the conflict continues, the plight of Christians in northern Mozambique remains a pressing issue, with many calling for global solidarity and intervention to halt the ongoing violence.


For more information on how to support persecuted Christians in Mozambique, visit Open Doors.


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