Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) Reportedly Urges Christians To Convert, Pay Jizyah, Or Be Killed, Calls On Muslims To Help Group 'Defend Islam'

The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here. 

On February 12, 2024, the pro-Islamic State (ISIS) "Bariqah" Telegram channel posted a photo and a video, reporting that a passenger bus was shot at in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, killing the driver, and that the attackers left notes for the passengers.[1]

The photo shows the hand-written notes, one in English and the other in Portuguese, which state they are from "the government of the Islamic State of Mozambique": "We declare war on all Christians in the world for three things, either to be a Muslim or paying jizyah [a poll tax which the Quran mandates non-Muslims to pay their Muslim rulers]. If you haven't paid jizyah it’s a war until [the end of the] earth. To Muslims we announce peace to all the world. Let’s work together to defend the religion of Allah together. If you refuse [to convert to Islam] then you will pay jizyah and if you refuse to pay jizyah you will be killed."

According to Mozambican news reports, "Islamist terrorists" attacked a bus on the highway near Meluco, Cabo Delgado province, on February 9, abducting the driver and leaving his fate unclear. In a separate incident on February 11, terrorists stopped a bus near Nangororo, Meluco district, and forced the passengers to hand over their money before allowing them to continue.

In November 2022, pro-ISIS channels reported that the Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) had distributed leaflets in Swahili calling on local "Jews and Christians" to convert to Islam, pay jizyah, or be killed. [2] In January and February 2024, ISMP operatives preached to Muslim villagers in Cabo Delgado province, urging them to follow shari’a and wage jihad, and warning them against cooperating with "unbelievers."[3]