Many Somali Christians in northeastern Kenya and Somalia live and worship in secrecy out of fear of persecution from Muslim extremists.

In 2016, armed Muslim extremists again attacked Sadiq. Daniel continued, “They attacked his semi-permanent house with bullets, hoping that he would be shot and killed inside. He climbed and hid up in the ceiling and not one bullet hit him. To make sure that he had died, they bombed the house and left. Sadiq was still safe in the ceiling. The Lord protected him. He moved to another neighborhood where he would be safe.”

In September 2018, the family conspired with his new landlord to chase him away from his house. Disappointed to learn that Sadiq was a Christian, the landlord gave him an ultimatum of four hours to pack and leave the compound. The landlord said that he cannot let a dog live in his house and that Sadiq deserved to die.

For fear of further attacks, Sadiq decided to leave Mandera and escape to Doolow, a town bordering Somalia and Ethiopia. He has since started selling perfumes and beauty products as a way of earning a living. He kept in touch with Rev. Daniel.

Daniel shared, “In March this year, I received a call from him that he had been arrested and tortured for two weeks before he was released and warned to never hold a Bible. A Muslim friend had found him reading his Bible at night and called the Somali Armed Forces who arrested him. He was charged for possessing a Bible and reading it aloud, hence disturbing other residents at night.”

Sadiq’s life has been a nightmare because of the harassment he faces for his Christian faith. He has not seen his family for three years. Despite this, he holds strong in his faith. He hopes to one day to move to a safer area where he will be free to worship Christ openly and freely.

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected]