Christian Convert Endures Repeated Brutality For Worshipping
In Somalia, Mohammad Abdul, a recent Christian convert from Islam, faced another assault on October 5 by Muslim relatives who suspected him of leading Christian worship gatherings. Abdul was holding a private prayer session in his home in Lower Juba Region when four of his relatives waited outside. When he stepped out, they questioned him about his worship practices, asking why he prayed in isolation rather than the traditional Islamic way. Abdul replied that his worship was a personal matter between him and Jesus (Isa), explaining he preferred to pray privately rather than publicly to please God alone.
When Abdul confirmed he had embraced Christianity and declared Jesus as his Savior, one of the relatives attacked him. He was struck with a blunt object, slapped, and sustained injuries, including a fractured hand and cuts to his face. Although bleeding, he steadfastly proclaimed his faith, telling his relatives they could harm him further but could not alter his devotion. As they departed, one relative commented that if Abdul truly loved God, perhaps God would “lead him to the right path.”
Abdul’s conversion and ministry have placed him and his family in grave danger. Since he began practicing Christianity in March, he has been targeted multiple times, surviving a knife attack on May 5 by the same relatives who also destroyed his home, beat his children, and injured his wife, who suffered a broken ankle. Following this attack, Abdul relocated his family, rented a new house, and cautiously continued leading small Bible study and prayer groups.
His family’s lives remain at constant risk due to Somalia’s laws, which make Islam the state religion and forbid other religions from being practiced publicly. Under Islamic law, apostasy is punishable by death, which aligns with the views of the militant group Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating within Somalia. This group has a history of violently targeting non-Muslims and has extended its reach into neighboring Kenya, attacking individuals it perceives as opposed to its ideology.
Somalia ranks as the second-most dangerous country globally for Christians, according to Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List. The escalating violence against Abdul highlights the severe risk for converts in Somalia, where both societal and state forces exert immense pressure to maintain Islamic adherence, leaving those like Abdul vulnerable to repeated attacks.