She was forced to abandon her children.
A Somali mother of two, Fatuma (name withheld for safety), was forced to leave her children after her husband brutally attacked her upon discovering her conversion to Christianity. Fatuma, 30, accepted Christ on October 15 during a clandestine church gathering in Somalia’s Mudug region. On December 8, after enduring physical abuse from her husband that left her with a fractured hand and severe facial injuries, she fled for her life, leaving behind her 4- and 6-year-old children.
Fatuma shared her pain and longing for her children, saying, “I cannot return to my husband because he will kill me. I forgive him and pray for his transformation, but I am deeply hurt and need prayers for healing.” The ordeal began when her mother-in-law discovered her praying in Jesus’ name on December 4, warning her to cease such “devilish” practices. Fatuma continued praying in secret, citing her unwavering faith in Christ.
Two days later, her mother-in-law caught her again and threatened divorce. The situation escalated when Fatuma’s husband arrived and violently attacked her with sticks. Her mother-in-law intervened to stop the beating, but the damage was done. Fatuma fled the area and is now being sheltered by a Christian leader, whose identity is also undisclosed for security reasons.
Somalia’s constitution designates Islam as the state religion and mandates adherence to Sharia law, which includes the death penalty for apostasy. The extremist group al-Shabaab, an ally of al-Qaeda, enforces these laws and has a history of violence against Christians. Somalia ranks second on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.
Fatuma’s situation highlights the severe challenges faced by Somali Christians. Fellow believers in Somalia have called for prayers for her, asking for God’s peace to comfort her during this harrowing time.