Al-Shabab in Somalia slits the throat of a Christian woman in public

A Christian woman in Somalia was brutally slaughtered for apostasy recently by Sunni extremists who held her to the ground, recited the Qu’ran, pulled up her head and slit her throat in a public area while shouting, “Allah Akbar.”

Asha Mberwa, a 36-year-old mother of four, was captured by the al-Shabab and executed slowly and painfully in front of Warbhigly villagers in Somalia on January 7, the Pakistan Christian Times reported.

Mberwa was also made aware that the al-Shabab planned to look for her children and indoctrinate them, according to the Pakistan Christian Times.

Apostasy, or converting from Islam to another faith, is punishable by death in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Maldives, Afghanistan, Somalia and other countries that practice Islamic Sharia law, The Pakistan Christian Times said.

The incident is not uncommon in Somalia, Mission News Network said. The World Watch List of Open Doors has rated Somalia as the fifth worst country for Christians to live in.

Somalia also has the most extreme and plentiful incidence of persecution in Africa. Mission News Network reported that al-Shabab is intent in wiping out all Christians from the country.

Few in number, grave danger

Sammy Tippit, of Sammy Tippit Ministries told Mission News Network of his own experience when he visited Somalia at the request of Christians there. He said, “First of all, there’s such a minority of believers in the area we were in. In fact, in a region of about three million people, there were only about 14 believers.”

Despite their small number, they face grave danger. Tippit told Mission News Network, “They have to be careful who they talk to about their faith and what they say, because their lives are in danger. They’re very courageous. They’re meeting quietly, and they’re trying to be good citizens within the country.”

Tippit said Christians in Somalia lack bibles, and he is currently partnering with bible translation ministries to address this. He is also developing a Christian website in the Somali language, Mission News Network reported.

Tippit told Mission News Network, “We will, probably within the next few months, develop a web site that will have discipleship materials, basic things that can be accessed—because carrying around a bible in that part of the world can be very dangerous.”

Refusal of aid

Al-Shabab is so intent in wiping out Christians that it will not even allow international and local aid agencies to enter drought stricken areas in southern and central Somalia, where critical help is needed, All Africa said.

Al Shabab’s Sheikh Suldan Mohammed Ala Mohammed has refused the aid because he believes the workers want to brainwash the people and spread Christianity, according to All Africa.

Over 20 aid organizations have already been banned by al-Shabab and those who remain find difficulty addressing the needs of millions of Somali, even as they themselves face great danger, All Africa reported.

Support from Mohammed

According to The Modern Tokyo Times, oftentimes there is veritably little difference between jihadists and national governments that support death for apostasy, for example, in Afghanistan and Somalia.