Friday, February 20, 2009

Brutal murder of a Somali convert from Islam

CSI report,'Footage has emerged of a mobile phone video showing the tragic and brutal murder of a Somali convert from Islam.
In September 2008, members of the al-Shabab militia intercepted 25-year-old Mansour Mohammed, a humanitarian aid worker and convert from Islam, along with his driver.

Mansour’s driver managed to escape, but later that day at a nearby village the militiamen asked villagers to gather around as they had prepared a “celebration” for them. Five masked men armed with guns and large traditional daggers dragged a handcuffed Mansour to the area where the villagers had gathered, forcing him to kneel.

The militia men declared that Mansour was a “Murtad,” who spied for the Ethiopian Army and began reciting from the Qur’an. One militia pulled back his head, occasionally turned it from side to side, and at one point scraped a large dagger against his hair several times as if sharpening it - it seemed he wanted to force some reaction from Mansour. However, the video of his death shows Mansour remained calm and impassive throughout the ordeal. He did not shake or utter a word as militia men denounced him and shouted “Allah u Akbar”.

He offered no resistance when they threw him to the ground, twisted his neck and set about severing his head, which they triumphantly displayed to the gathered crowd, before placing it on his stomach and walking away.

Background
The al-Shabab militia was responsible for killing Somali converts Daud Hassan Ali, a 64 year-old aid worker from Birmingham, 32 year-old, Rehana Ahmed, also from Birmingham, and Kenyan teachers Gilford Koech and Andrew Kibet. They were shot dead in April 2008 in Beledweyne at a school built by Daud’s charity.

The militia also organised the stoning to death in the southern port of Kismayu of a thirteen-year-old Muslim girl named Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow. Her family had approached them for justice after she was raped by three armed men. Instead, Aisha was taken into custody a few days later and accused of flirting and committing adultery. Then on 27 October, a bound, gagged and struggling Aisha was carried to a public stadium, buried to the neck and stoned to death.


What you can do

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Pray
- For Mansour’s family and friends as they cope with the aftermath of this tragedy. Pray that God would comfort and strengthen them in every way during this difficult time.

- That the hearts of the perpetrators would somehow be changed, and that they would no longer be able to initiate, justify or take part in such brutal violence.

- For other converts from Islam in Somalia, that God would give them courage, strength and endurance in light of these brutal attacks.

- That the discrimination faced by converts worldwide would be brought to the attention of the international community, and that lobbying by human rights organisations would be effective

follow the following link to find out more about CSW’s report about the discrimination faced by apostates
http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=94&search

Protest to government officials.

Yours in Christ,

CSW Advocacy Team

Michael O'Rourke
CSW Church Rep

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) www.csw.org.uk
PO Box 99
New Malden
Surrey
KT3 3YF
United Kingdom

CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.'

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