By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOGADISHU/NAIROBI (Worthy News) - Six Kenyan traders were shot dead in Somalia by suspected Islamic fighters for spreading their faith in Christ among Muslims, Christians said Monday.
The merchants were reportedly killed on Good Friday in the Somali border town of Dhobley by gunmen of the Islamic extremist al-Shabab group.
The men had been selling plastic utensils and other household goods in the area to support their families and as a cover to evangelize among Muslims, well-informed believers added.
“Our brothers had been doing business to support their families, but also sharing the love of Jesus Christ to the Muslims in Dhobley,” a Christian leader in northern Kenya said in published remarks.
The leader spoke to the Christian news service Morning Star News (MSN) on condition of anonymity. “Two members of our church recently reported that several Muslims were secretly attending the evening prayers. This is probably what could have caused the al-Shabab to kill them for spreading Christianity in the area.”
He identified the murdered Christians as Joseph Githonga and Simon Karimi of the East Africa Pentecostal Church, Peter Muthuri and Thomas Muthee of the Kenya Assemblies of God, and James Mwendwa and John Kathure of the Anglican Church.
BROADER CONCERNS
It comes amid broader concerns about Christians in Somalia. “The dangers of being a Christian in Somalia are extreme. Most, if not all, are converts from Muslim backgrounds, making them a high-value target for al-Shabab, a militant group that has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country,” said well-informed advocacy group Open Doors.
“If discovered, believers could be killed on the spot,” the group added.
Open Doors has ranked Somali, a strict Islamic nation, number 2 on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face the most persecution.
“Somali society is overwhelmingly conservative, and leaving Islam is regarded in many places as a betrayal of the Somali culture and clan,” Open Doors stressed.
“Christian converts face intense pressure from their family and local community, which can lead to harassment, intimidation, and even death. Even being suspected of converting from Islam to Christianity can lead to life-threatening danger,” the group added.
Local police pledged to increase security following the Good Friday attack, but questions remained about whether that would prevent more violence.
ATTACKS INCREASE
Christians said various forms of violence and suicide bombings have continued for years, as have attacks targeting Christians.
“This has led to many Christians fleeing for their lives, with some even opting to leave the country altogether,” Open Doors noticed in a recent assessment.
Open Doors said it currently “supports Somali believers across the Horn of Africa through discipleship training and by equipping them to cope with severe persecution.”
Yet it remains risky, with local authorities saying that attacks have increased along the volatile Kenya-Somalia border, Worthy News learned.
Kenya's involvement in the fight against terrorism in Somalia has made its citizens and troops a prime target for retaliatory attacks by al-Shabab operatives, according to experts.
The deadliest known terror attack on Kenyan soil by al-Shabab fighters occurred at Garissa University College on April 2, 2015, where gunmen stormed the campus, reportedly killing over 140 students and injuring many others.