"We heard and read truly amazing stories of how the Muslims protected us and helped Christians avoid an almost certain death. Now Christians are helping thousands of Muslims who have fled from Marawi.

"These are indisputable signs that there is no religious war", they said in a statement on Monday.

"We all cry from our hearts: War in Marawi, never again! War in Marawi, no more!"

Mindanao Islamic religious scholars and leaders agree with the bishops.

According to an Agenzia Fides report they "deplore the ‘violent extremist group of Maute [ISIS] in Marawi, who, swearing allegiance to Islam, contradicted the fundamental principles of Islam by abducting and killing innocent people'".

Christian and Muslim leaders have suggested the government take "an inclusive approach to resolve the crisis, involving Islamic leaders and placing them in the forefront of negotiations".

Agenzia Fides also says in different parts of the Philippines interreligious initiatives have started. In Cebu for example, an island north of Mindanao, reports say "Muslim communities have invited people of different faiths to ‘respect and love each other' to promote peace".

Catholics and local Islamic leaders have also held an interreligious prayer meeting in Cebu city, while in Quezon City, Manila, upwards of 1,000 Muslims and Christians gathered to pray in a show of unity at noon on 7 July.

The majority of Marawi's mostly Muslim population of 200,000 people have fled since its occupation. Nearly 400 people have been killed in the fighting in the city so far.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• World Watch Monitor
• Image:Inquirer News
  

About 1,000 residents are said to remain trapped in the besieged city. Fighting continues around them between the Philippine Army and Islamist rebels.

Escape stories are emerging. "Some of the stories that stuck were Muslims helping protect Christian workers by letting them borrow a hijab," a relief worker says.

Others report that people have swum across the river and lake to safety to escape the attacks.

An alliance of faith-based, service organizations, human rights and people's organizations is providing relief and medical services to victims and evacuees.

They are also documenting human-rights violations brought about by the declaration of martial law.

So far, negotiations for a ceasefire have not been effective.

This is leaving residents remaining in the city in a dangerous situation. If they go out they may be killed in crossfire. If they stay in hiding they may die of starvation.

One family has texted for help. They say they have started to eat the blankets because they're so hungry.

Source

• Newsweek
• BusinessMirror
• Image: SunStar

A video posted by the gunmen showed armed men throwing down and stomping on the images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph and tearing up posters of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI.

ISIS (also known as Maute) gunmen began their attack on the city two weeks ago.

They are said to have stocked weapons and food in mosques, basements and tunnels to prepare for a siege.

A Catholic bishop, a Muslim cleric and the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) denounced the attack on St. Mary's Cathedral.

Bishop Edwin de la Peña said burning the cathedral and smashing images of the crucified Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, showed the extremists are "trampling on the Catholic faith."

"That is blasphemy. It's unacceptable. It's obvious that their actions are really out of this world. It's demonic," he said.

ARMM urged people not to allow the incident to cause division between Muslims and Christians in the region.

The ISIS-inspired fighters include hundreds of foreign extremists, many in their teens, from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Saudi Arabia, Chechnya and Morocco.

The battle for Marawi has raised concerns Islamic State is building a southeast Asian base on the island of Mindanao at the southern end of the Philippines.

Source

• Mirror
• Inquirer.net
• Breitbart

Islamist rebels have been occupying the town for several days.

Most of the dead were shot in the head. Some had their hands tied behind their backs. Read more