Somalia: Scholars issue fatwa against al-Shabaab

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (Worthy News)– An Islamic conference of 160 Somali scholars recently issued a fatwa declaring that al-Shabaab doesn’t represent Islam and Muslims shouldn’t support this militant Islamist group, according to Voice of the Martyrs.

Al-Shabaab is an al-Qaeda affiliate operating freely in Somalia, a failed African nation that already struggles with rampant lawlessness.

Todd Nettleton, a spokesman with Voice of the Martyrs USA, said the fatwa was the first time that religious leaders have openly challenged al-Shabaab, but as it already controls vast rural areas of this small African nation, al-Shabaab’s members will not receive the religious ruling lightly.

“Al-Shabaab would say, ‘We’re the true Muslims, and we’re conducting jihad because we’re the true Muslims and those who are not living up to the edicts of the religion should be punished,'” said Nettleton.

With less than one percent of its majority Muslim population being Christian, Somalia ranks fifth on the Open Doors World Watch List of the top 50 countries known for persecution its of Christians.

“Our Christian brothers and sisters are going to be under fire in Somalia, regardless of who’s in charge,” said Nettleton. “The government is an Islamic government. They’re not going to support the church. They’re certainly not going to support Muslim converts. However, in the scheme of things, they’re probably less violent and less of a threat than al-Shabaab is.”

As al-Shabaab has vowed to eradicate all Christians from Somalia, most of them have become closet believers who secretly meet in house churches. But as the murder of Muslim converts to Christ becomes more common, more Christians continue to flee Somalia.

Lift this up in Prayer

18

people are currently praying.

Latest Worthy News

Fair Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Books by George Whitten

Identity in Messiah Revealed https://identityinmessiah.com

A devotional journey calling believers out of self-doubt and into confident, Kingdom-rooted identity in the Messiah.

Get it on Amazon

The Biblical Fall Feasts Revealed https://biblicalfallfeasts.com

An in-depth look at the Biblical fall feasts and their prophetic significance for believers today.

Get it on Amazon