The use of scripture to justify violence and hatred is not unique to Rwanda. Throughout history, religious texts have been weaponized to serve various ideological ends. During the Crusades, biblical passages were cited to justify the slaughter of Muslims and Jews. In the American South, pro-slavery advocates used the Bible to defend the institution of slavery.

Adolf Hitler and the Nazis skewed the Bible to reinforce their ideology. More recently, extremist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS have twisted Qur’anic verses to legitimise their acts of terror.

This phenomenon can be understood through the lens of hermeneutics, the study of interpretation, especially of religious texts. Hermeneutics recognises that texts do not have fixed meanings; rather, their interpretation is influenced by the readers' context, intentions, and biases.

Ideologues exploit this flexibility, selectively quoting scripture to construct narratives that serve their purposes. By doing so, they exploit the authority and moral weight that religious texts carry for many people.

The Nazis' manipulation of Christian scripture

The Nazi regime, which ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945, exploited Christian scripture to legitimize its anti-Semitic ideology and the mass extermination of 6 million Jews. Hitler and his propagandists understood that to gain widespread support for their radical policies, they needed to appeal to the existing religious and cultural beliefs of the German people, majority of whom identified as Christians.

To achieve this, the Nazis promoted a distorted version of Christianity known as "Positive Christianity," which aligned with Nazi ideology. They reinterpreted certain Bible passages to portray Jews as enemies of Christianity and as inherently evil. For instance, the New Testament's portrayal of the Pharisees—a Jewish sect during Jesus' time—was misrepresented as evidence of Jewish deceit and malevolence.

They cherry-picked verses that could be interpreted as hostile to Jews, such as the infamous verse John 8:44, where Jesus says to certain Jewish leaders, "You are of your father the devil." Such verses were taken out of context to paint Jews as Christ-killers and a threat to Christian civilization.

The Nazis also reimagined Jesus as an Aryan, distancing him from his Jewish roots and presenting him as a figure who would support the Nazi agenda. This reframing was part of a broader campaign to create a version of Christianity that was congruent with Nazi racial ideology. The regime even went so far as to produce a "Nazi Bible," which removed references to Jewish figures and replaced the Old Testament with Germanic myths.

By manipulating scripture and aligning Christian teachings with their hateful ideology, the Nazis aimed to sanctify their actions and frame the Holocaust as a divine mission. This approach allowed them to garner support from sections of the Christian clergy and laity, who either passively accepted or actively endorsed the regime's anti-Semitic policies.

Al-Qaeda's distortion of the Qur’an

Similarly, Al-Qaeda, a militant Islamist organization founded by Osama bin Laden, has weaponized the Qur’an to justify terrorism and recruit followers. Al-Qaeda's interpretation of Islam is rooted in a radical and selective reading of Islamic scripture, taking Qur’anic verses out of context to promote violence against perceived enemies of Islam, particularly the West.

Al-Qaeda's ideology is primarily based on the concept of "jihad," which it interprets narrowly as a call to violent struggle against non-Muslims and apostates. However, the term "jihad" in Islamic tradition encompasses a broader range of meanings, including personal spiritual struggle and efforts to promote social justice.

The group emphasizes Qur’anic verses that speak of fighting against oppression but ignores the many passages that advocate peace, mercy, and coexistence.

For example, Al-Qaeda often cites Qur’an 9:5, known as the "Sword Verse": "Kill the polytheists wherever you find them." They use this verse to justify attacks on civilians and non-combatants, but they omit the historical and textual context of the verse, which refers to a specific conflict between early Muslims and a group of polytheists who had broken a peace treaty.

Islamic scholars widely agree that this verse, like others, must be understood in its specific historical and situational context and not as a blanket commandment for violence.

Furthermore, Al-Qaeda's doctrine is heavily influenced by the writings of Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian Islamist thinker who argued for a revolutionary approach to establishing an Islamic state. Qutb's writings have been criticized for their extreme and literalist interpretations of Islamic teachings. Al-Qaeda uses these interpretations to legitimize its acts of terror, portraying them as a divine obligation to defend Islam from perceived enemies.

Hate propaganda as 'prophecy'

Thomas Nahimana is a Rwandan/French Catholic Priest, and currently the President of the so-called "Rwandan Government in Exile." Over 15 years ago Nahimana and another Catholic priest Fortunatus Rudakemwa created a website Le Prophete (The Prophet). By naming their website Le Prophete, they aimed at exploiting the positive connotations associated with "prophet" in religious contexts. In the Bible, prophets are considered messengers of God, delivering guidance, encouragement, and moral warnings.

As 2 Peter 1:21 states, "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." Similarly, 1 Corinthians 14:3 says, "the one who prophesies speaks to people for their up building and encouragement and consolation."

In Islam, the role of prophets is similarly sacred and centred on peace, guidance, and mercy. For example, the Qur'an states: "We sent you [O Muhammad] only as a mercy to the worlds" (Qur'an 21:107). Another verse, "And We did not send you except as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind" (Qur'an 34:28), emphasizes the dual role of a prophet to bring good news and caution against evil—always with a view to guiding people toward righteousness, not division or hatred.

Rudakemwa and Nahimana pervert these ideals by using the term "prophet" to give their messages a false sense of divine authority. Rather than promoting peace, truth, or moral guidance, they twist prophecy into a vehicle for hate and division. This choice of terminology is designed to mislead followers into associating their hate-filled ideology with divine will.

At the heart of Le Prophete's content is a relentless campaign to demonize the Tutsi community and the RPF. Using deeply entrenched stereotypes and conspiracy theories, the priests portray Tutsis as inherently evil, equating them with Satanic figures and liars.

This rhetoric is eerily reminiscent of the language used before, during and after the Genocide Against the Tutsi in 1994 when Tutsis were dehumanized as "cockroaches" by Hutu extremists. By invoking religious imagery and language, Le Prophete aims to create an emotional response that justifies violence against the Tutsi community.

The use of biblical and Qur’anic references on Le Prophete is not accidental; it is a calculated effort to manipulate the beliefs of devout Christians and Muslims, particularly those already inclined toward Hutu Power ideology. By using religious language, the priests present their messages as divinely sanctioned, a righteous battle between good (Hutus) and evil (Tutsis/RPF). This framing not only distorts the true teachings of Christianity and Islam but also corrupts the faith of their followers by promoting hate under the guise of divine truth.

The Qur’an also condemns the spread of hate, stating, "O mankind, We have created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not despise each other)" (Qur'an 49:13). This verse underscores that differences among people are meant to be a source of learning and understanding, not conflict or hatred.

This manipulation amounts to spiritual abuse, exploiting the trust and faith that people place in religious leaders and sacred texts. Instead of promoting peace and coexistence, as true prophets would, Rudakemwa and Nahimana use their positions to push a divisive and dangerous agenda. They are not prophets but false prophets, leading their followers astray with a hateful and destructive ideology.

By wrapping their hate speech in religious language, Le Prophete gives it a coating of acceptability that can easily radicalize individuals, leading them to view violence as a holy duty rather than a crime. This type of messaging is particularly insidious because it appeals to both reason and emotion, presenting the conflict as a divinely mandated struggle.

It creates a false dichotomy where followers are led to believe they must choose between good and evil, with no room for nuance or compromise. In this narrative, Tutsis and the RPF are cast as the ultimate evil, to be fought against as a divine obligation.

Countering these conduits of hate

The danger posed by platforms like Le Prophete cannot be underestimated. They thrive on misinformation, fear, and division, and use religion as a powerful tool to manipulate beliefs. Education on the history of the Genocide Against the Tutsi, the dangers of hate speech, and the true teachings of religious texts is essential. Both the Nazis and Al-Qaeda have shown that sacred texts can be powerful tools of propaganda when twisted to serve extremist ideologies.

By manipulating religious beliefs, these groups have sought to legitimize their actions, rally supporters, and silence dissent. In both cases, a selective and decontextualized reading of scripture has been used to foster hatred, justify violence, and promote a narrative of existential conflict.

Religious institutions have an obligation to distance themselves from figures like Nahimana, clearly stating that their ideologies have no place in faith communities. Interfaith dialogue and initiatives that foster inclusion can help counteract the division created by such hate speech. Additionally, governments and international bodies should take a strong stance against genocide denial and hate speech, including shutting down platforms like Le Prophete.

It is imperative for religious leaders and theologians across faiths to stand up against this subversion of sacred teachings. True prophecy, whether in Christianity, Islam, or any other faith, is about guiding humanity toward love, peace, and understanding. When biblical and Qur’anic teachings are twisted to serve a genocidal agenda, it is not just an affront to those targeted but a deep violation of the spiritual and moral essence of these religions.

It is upon religious communities to condemn such abuses of faith, to reclaim the true meanings of prophecy and prophesy—and to work together to ensure that religion remains a force for good in the world. The fight against hate requires the courage to speak truth to power and to stand unwaveringly for justice, peace, and the dignity of all people.