“It’s common knowledge that in Somalia when you become a Christian you’ll be persecuted. There is no question about it,” reveals Aweis Ali, a scholar, prolific author, bible translator and minister in the country. The World Watch List, an annual index produced by not-for-profit, Open Doors, highlights two types of persecution: ‘smash’ and squeeze’.
For believers in the Horn of Africa, squeeze refers to the persecution experienced as pressure in many areas of Christian life. These include freedom to express faith within family, Christians being able to meet, and the ability to access community resources or jobs. “It’s very damaging when you can’t have a business because nobody will buy anything from you, when you can’t find a job, when your own family and clan reject you,” clarifies Aweis. “I know Christian parents who lost their children, taken away from them by a Muslim relative so their kids could be raised as Muslim, and Somali Christian husbands who lost their wives because they were taken away from them. 100% of Somali Christians face this type of persecution.”
When persecution is violent it’s categorised as a smash event. Abductions, arrest, torture, imprisonment and death are examples. “This type of persecution is very common, when Somali Christians are tortured or killed, many times by shooting, decapitation or poisoning,” says Aweis. “The persecution comes from multiple sources. I’d say that the most painful one comes from your family, when your own siblings, parents, even your own cousins are after you. You can’t hide or get away. You can’t move to a different village or region as they’ll find you because the Somali clan system is so closely knit.”
Despite the many dangers, Aweis is resolute in his determination to keep ministering. “My vision for the Somali church is to become a normal, accepted part of the Somali society…a day when you will not lose your own children or spouse because of your faith. A time when the government will not put you in prison because of your faith. I want to see a day when there is general acceptance for the Somali church.” Join with Aweis in his prayer for the body of Christ in Somalia:
“Heavenly Father, in your holy name, we pray.
Aweis Ali
When you are with us, no one can be against us. What people see as impossible, like a Somali church, is in fact possible because of you. Because when we have you, Heavenly Father, everything we want to do in the kingdom of God is possible. No persecution, rejection, or excommunication or threat could remove the light from the people of Somali. You told us that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church. Heavenly Father, people may see it as impossible to have a thriving Somali church, but you know it’s not impossible because you gave us your Holy Spirit who’s our guide, comfort and counsellor.
In your name we pray, Amen.”
