Somaliland: Newly Christian woman sentenced to five years after refusal to renounce Christ

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A young newly Christian woman in Somaliland has begun a five-year prison sentence she received for refusing to renounce her faith in Christ and return to Islam, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

A resident of Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa, 22-year-old former Muslim Hani put her faith in Christ after hearing the Gospel from fellow students while studying in Ethiopia in October 2021, ICC said. The student who led Hani to Christ told ICC: “We made it clear that she would face serious rejection by her family and persecution from the Muslims.”

“She said there was more hope in Christ than following the teachings of the Quran, and she would not consider acceptance by family and miss eternal life. We prayed for her salvation and asked the Lord to protect her,” the student added.

Hani told no one of her conversion to Christ until after she had been baptized, ICC said.

When her family found out, they called the police, and Hani was arrested for blasphemy. She was kept in prison for five weeks and was told she would be released if she renounced Christ – but she refused. She was brought before a court in Hargeisa in August and was sentenced to five years in prison.

“Before the court, Hani did not deny that she was a Christian, so she was found guilty of blasphemy and was not given the option of bail. She is currently serving her term,” the student who led Hani to Christ told ICC.

The Islamic Republic of Somaliland is a breakaway area of Somalia that has declared independence and maintains autonomy from the Somali government in Mogadishu.

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