The Somali President Sheik Sharif Ahmed
It’s very surprising and embarrassing the level of persecution that is going in Somalia, with the recent report of a Christian teenager in the country who is being abused and held prisoner in her own home after she refused her parents' demands that she return to Islam.
Release International (RI) report said that the Muslim parents of a 17-year-old Nurta Mohamed Farah left her 'shackled to a tree' during the day and imprisoned in a small, dark room at night adding that this is in a bid to make her renounce her faith.
The report said that for more than a month now, Nurta has resolutely refused to recant adding that the family, who live in Bardher in the Gedo region of southern Somalia, tried initially to 'cure' their daughter by beating her and giving her medication a doctor had prescribed for 'mental illness'.
‘Nurta has reportedly become 'very sick' as a result. Nurta's family are said to recite long passages from the Koran to her twice a week in the belief that Islam's holy book can cure mental illness, Compass Direct news agency reports,” it said.
It noted that the tiny Christian community in Gedo region is said to be very distressed about Nurta's treatment, but feel they cannot intervene for fear of attack.
It’s worthy to note that religious freedom is enshrined in Somalia's Transitional Federal Charter, but is not upheld by the transitional Government. Islamist Al Shabaab militants, who control much of the country, rather they’re also attacking Christians in a bid to extend strict Sharia (Islamic law) across the country.
“Thank God for Nurta's strong faith and her powerful witness. Pray that her family will stop persecuting her and come to know Jesus themselves. Ask God to protect and build His church in this troubled land.”
In a related report, RI said that the blasphemy trial of Punjabi Christian Asia Bibi has heard evidence from the policeman who registered the original case against her and more prosecution witnesses are due to appear in court in Sheikhupura soon.
It noted that the next hearing in the blasphemy trial of Martha Bibi in Lahore is scheduled for June 24. “Please continue to pray for justice for Asia and Martha and for protection over the women, their families and the Release partners supporting them.”
Release International through its international network of missions is serving persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles; and working for justice.
For more information on this, log on to Release International website: http://www.releaseinternational.org/
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