Somalia (MNN) — The Islamic extremist group Al-Shabaab has
murdered yet another Somali Christian, Compass Direct News reports. On May 4, militants gunned down a 57-year-old
primary school teacher and father of three, Yusuf Ali Nur.
Al-Shabaab had placed Nur on a list of people suspected of
being Christians. After a two-hour
battle with rival rebel group, the Ahlu Sunna Waljamer, Al-Shabaab took control of Xarardheere, the
town where Nur had lived with his family since July of 2009. The militants searched from house to
house. When they came to Nur's house,
one of them said, "Oh! This is Yusuf, whom we have been looking for," and they killed him with a shower of
bullets.
Nur
is survived by his wife and three children, ages 7, 9, and 11. He was the head teacher and taught English at
Ganane Primary School, a private school owned by wealthy Somali
proprietors. Al-Shabaab objects to
Somali use of the English language. It has
also banned radios from playing music and schools from ringing bells, simply because
school bells sound like church bells.
At
least 15 Christians, including women and children, were murdered by Somali
militants in 2009. Several more have
already died this year. The president of
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TF), Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed,
offers little protection for Christians. He has embraced a version of sharia law that mandates the death penalty
for those who leave Islam. Pray for
comfort and protection for believers, and for the spread of the Gospel despite
persecution.
