Somalia
#3 Prosecutor of Christians 2019
This video from Open Doors USA explains the mass persecution of Christians in Somalia and illustrates why they are the number three persecutors of Christians in 2019 in the world.
Following North Korea and Afghanistan, Somalia holds the third highest persecution rates, regarding their profile of persecution against Christians, in the world. This includes violence, church life, national life, community life, family life, and private life.
Open Doors USA
This article focuses on the persecution of Christians in Somalia and their vulnerability to attacks by Islamic militants.
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The Christian population in Somalia is very small and is constantly in fear of the Somalian government and the country's Sharia law. Somalia is made up of 99% Muslims and any minority religion is persecuted. They are known for their heavy violence against Christians and their Islamic terrorist groups advocating for persecution of all Christians.
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Once Muslim people who turned to Christianity are often times killed on the spot if discovered. The government targets converts the most as it is extremely looked down upon to leave Muslim values and turn to Christianity. Christians are targeted not only by militants but also by families and the community. Conversion to Christianity is betrayal to Somali families. Families often times harass and kill family members who are converts.
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Somalia has increased its hint for Christians and continued to hurt and kill as many as they can.
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-Analysis of Article-
This article emphasizes the suffering of Christians in Somalia and illustrates the fear and pain they are enduring on a daily basis. The article addresses Muslims and Christians. The article provides the statistic that Somalia is made of 99% Christians. This gives credibility to the authors argument that Muslims are the cause of persecution of Christians in Somalia. It also allows the reader to visualize the demographics found in Somalia and why Christians are easily the minority there. The author touches on some of the history in Somalia, addressing the Islamic terrorist groups that have been in Somalia for many years, as well as the country’s Sharia law. The Islamic terrorist groups are one of the main advocates for Christian persecution in Somalia and are in favor of violence and cruelty towards humans. The Islamic terrorist groups are extremists who believe that religious converts are disowning their community and deserve to die. The article highlights how Muslims in Somalia take the Sharia law very seriously. A law that holds Muslim religious principles that are to be taken seriously. Those who abide by the law feel obligated to persecute all religions unlike theirs. The topic of Christian Persecution in this article is understood as a problem that needs to be addressed and fixed.
-Analysis of Article-
This article covers the constant fear Christian workers in Somalia face every day due to their religious beliefs. ​This article focuses on twelve Christian workers who have to worship in secret as no Christian churches exist in Somalia. Muslim extremist groups such as jihadists in al-Shabab, would kill them if they knew they held secret Christian services. The author of this article provides a history of the Somalian militant group al-Shabab. They have been hunting for Christians for years and hold no tolerance for non-Muslims. The author provides credibility by providing statements from one of the Twelve Christian Workers, Pastor John. He expresses the constant fear he lives in by claiming that, “It’s very dangerous for anyone to identify you as a Christian in this country. You will, in fact, be counting your days on Earth,” said John, adding that he is in Somalia to make a living. “So we are always silent as long as we meet and share the word of God in private. But we have always trusted Jesus for protection as the Bible says.” The headline of the article, “Christian workers in Somalia worship in secret, fear al-Shabab,” allows the readers to understand that there are people who are trying to work and make a life for themselves but are constantly worried about being killed just because of their religion. It also introduces the militant group al-Shabab. This article views Somalia as a threat to Christians and recognizes the immediate need for change in the country.