By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) - The leader of a mosque in western Uganda reportedly ordered men to rape three female relatives of a church pastor because the imam’s wife converted from Islam to Christianity.
He also sent a Muslim to the church’s worship services in the Kasese area to gather information for a future attack, said Morning Star News agency which monitors persecution.
Separately, the imam sent a threatening message to the pastor, sources said.
The February 16 rapes in Musasa village in Kasese District targeted women ages 19, 17, and 16, according to Christians familiar with the situation.
The assaults reportedly came two days after imam Caled Bwambale Hussein of Kasese municipality learned of the conversion of his wife, Mariam Mbambu, church members said.
The rapes come amid mounting pressure on Christian converts in Muslim-dominated areas in Uganda. In one of the worst known recent incidents, 41-year-old Yusuf Kintu, an ex-imam
of Macca Mosque in Dolwe Island in Mayuge District was killed on December 7 last year by a Muslim mob, Christians said.
The attack came a week after Kintu converted to Christianity.
Pastor Andrew Nyanma of the Full Gospel church Dolwe said in published remarks that the former imam had put his faith in Christ on November 30, 2020, after hearing the Gospel.
“Many new Christians suffer at the hands of their families and former friends due to conversion,” confirmed International Christian Concern, a prominent advocacy group.
Yusuf Kintu was one of the few who was killed, “but many suffer the loss of livelihoods, family, homes, and property,” ICC added.