Over the past week Somalia grabbed the world’s headlines when pirates attacked an American container ship off the coast of Somalia and captured the ship’s captain.
While the hostages the pirates are holding for ransom are in grave danger, the Christians inside Somalia are also caught in the crossfire. In 2008, the fighting between Somali Islamic militias and Ethiopian forces reportedly led to an increase in hostility towards Christians in several parts of the war-torn East African country. Four Christian teachers, two of them converts from Islam, were murdered by Islamic militants in south-central Somalia.
In total, Open Doors received reports of at least 10 Christians being killed for their faith in 2008 in Somalia and several others kidnapped and raped. The minority of ethnic Somali Christians practice their faith in secret and live under extremely dangerous conditions.
Somalia is ranked No. 5 in this year’s Open Doors World Watch List which ranks the top persecutors of Christians. The previous year Somalia was ranked No. 12.
“The gospel has made extremely slow inroads into this dark country. Those who come to Christ do so at a huge risk. Most of them are Muslim Background Believers who face unbelievable pressure and persecution,” says Open Doors USA President/CEO Carl Moeller.
“Somalia desperately needs our prayers as conditions deteriorate. This country needs both physical and spiritual nourishment. Please join me in praying for the tremendous needs of Somalia and for the few brave believers inside the country.”
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