We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.
There are only a few hundred Christians. Extremist Islamic groups target Christians and control large parts of the country. Nearly all Christians come from Islamic backgrounds, so many will keep their faith a secret. Those who are found to have converted can be excluded and harassed by family – some will face a worse fate.
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Could provide a young person from Central Asia with a Bible in their own language
EVERY £26
Could provide trauma care for a victim of violent persecution
“Jesus had changed me. I realised that I didn’t choose Him, but He chose me.”
Nala, a Somali Christian who fled the country
SOMALIA: QUICK FACTS
Extremist Islamic groups target Christians and control large parts of the country.
Nearly all Christians come from Islamic backgrounds. Many will keep their faith a secret.
Those who are found to have converted can be excluded and harassed by family – some will face a worse fate.
There are only an estimated few hundred Christians in Somalia
SOMALIA: THE BASICS
The dangers of being a Christian in Somalia are extreme. Most, if not all, Christians in the country are converts from Muslim backgrounds. That makes each believer a high-value target for al-Shabaab, a militant group that has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country. If discovered, believers could be killed on the spot.
In Somali society, leaving Islam is regarded by many as a betrayal of culture and clan. Those suspected of conversion face intense pressure from their family and local community, which can lead to harassment, intimidation and even murder. Women may be kept under strict house arrest or forcibly married to a Muslim. Men who are suspected of conversion will be pressurised into different activities – like leading prayers at mosques, or marrying more than one wife – to test where their true allegiance lies.
Church life in Somalia is non-existent, and in recent years the dangers facing Christians appear to have worsened, as Islamic militants have intensified their hunt for Christian leaders. Attempts to establish or re-open churches have been met with fierce resistance.
In the last year, al-Shabaab has persistently carried out its operations, despite government efforts to reclaim territories from the group. Suicide bombings and various forms of violence have continued, as have attacks targeting Christians. This has led to many Christians fleeing for their lives, with some even opting to leave the country altogether.
SOMALIA: MORE DETAIL
What is life like?
Society expects all Somalis to be Muslim. Imams in mosques and madrassas state publicly that there is no room for Christianity, Christians or churches. Christians from Muslim backgrounds are regarded as high-value targets and may be killed on the spot if discovered.
Believers continue to face an extreme level of violence, which has worsened in recent years. Islamic militants have intensified their hunt for people who are Christian. Their goal, as they have stated on many occasions, is to rid Somalia of any Christians.
Christians also face serious persecution from their family and community. Leaving Islam is regarded as a betrayal, and anyone even suspected of being a Christian convert is closely monitored by the elders in the community, and even by their own family members. ‘Church life’ is simply not possible, so the few believers must meet in secret.
If a woman is suspected of being a Christian, she may be kept under strict house-arrest, raped, abducted, forcibly married to a radical sheikh or killed. If she is already married, her husband is likely to divorce her and take her children away. Christian men and boys are at risk of verbal abuse, physical assault, abduction, imprisonment, torture or death. Converts find it impossible to trust even their own family members.
How is Open Doors helping?
Open Doors supports Somali believers across the Horn of Africa through discipleship training and by equipping them to cope with severe persecution.
PRAY NOW
Dear God, thank You for the bravery of believers in Somalia. May they feel the warmth and joy of Your presence. Encourage their hearts and provide ways for them to meet and share safely with other believers. Soften the hearts of those who persecute Your people, show them that You are Lord. We cry out to You today and ask that You supernaturally protect and strengthen our sisters and brothers in Somalia. Amen.
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North Korea is the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. The leadership are viewed as divine, so those following Jesus pose a real threat to their ruling status. Those suspected of following Jesus will be arrested and interrogated. Up to 70,000 Christians are living in horrific labour camps.
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Libya
35,100 (0.5%)
Libya: QUICK FACTS Libya: The basics Libya continues to be a place with very little political stability. Much of the country is ruled over by militias. But a small number of Libyans have encountered Jesus and chosen to follow Him. It could cost them everything. Converts from Islam face the most intense and violent pressure […]
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Eritrea
1.7 million (46%)
There are 3.7 million people in Eritrea. Of these, 1.7 million are Christian, which is almost half the population.
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Yemen
A small number (exact figures are hard to define)
A country where Muslims who choose to follow Jesus could face the death penalty…
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Nigeria
103 million (46.4%)
More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world, combined…
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Pakistan
4.2 million (1.8%)
PAKISTAN: QUICK FACTS PAKISTAN: THE BASICS A devastating attack on the Christian community in Jaranwala in August 2023 was a reminder of the hostile environment facing many believers in Pakistan. The attack on more than 20 churches and almost 100 homes was in response to two believers being accused of desecrating the Quran. Pakistan’s notorious […]
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Sudan
2 million (4.3%)
Conflict, targeted persecution, Islamic extremism and instability all mean Christians are counting the cost in Sudan…
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Iran
1.2 million (under 1.4% of the population)
Converting to Christianity from Islam is illegal in Iran, a place where Christians ca be arrested simply for attending a house church…
LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:
Afghanistan
Thousands (in a population of 41 million)
If an Afghan’s Christian faith is discovered, it can be a death sentence, or they can be detained and tortured into giving information about fellow believers…
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