Last week I received a message from Somalia. The message was from an ex-Muslim. He needs some help after his renunciation of Islam. Yari wrote: “Hello, Leo Igwe. I am from Somalia, a country in East Africa. Somalia is 99 percent Muslim”. Going by this percentage, one could say that there are no godless (Allahless) persons in this region. Is that actually the case? Are there no atheists, skeptics or freethinkers in Somalia?
Surely, the reason why a country such as Somalia could be almost 100 percent Muslim may not be farfetched. It lies somewhere: in the upbringing, in the religious formation of Somalis. Yari stated: “I am 20 years old, raised as a Muslim and my family members are strictly religious”. Actually, there is often a thin line separating strict and extreme religiosity. Incidentally, in the case of Yari, the strict religious upbringing backfired. He became an apostate. As he stated: “It was in December 2018 that I lost faith in Islam and became an atheist”. This is what Yari said regarding how he felt as an atheist or as a person without faith in Allah: “Since the time I renounced Islam, I have felt much happier and more active”. This is because for many apostates, renouncing religion, in this case Islam, is usually a relieving experience. It is like getting rid of something that has been a source of sadness and pain.
Meanwhile, apostasy is a crime under Islamic law. Apostates are attacked, killed, beheaded or imprisoned until they recant. So ex-Muslims find it extremely difficult to go open and public with their disbelief. Yari’s excitement was short-lived.
As he noted in the message: `…but it was last month that my sister had, while using my phone, learned about all my activity, especially that I was a critic of Islam and an atheist. She informed my parents and they pressured and tortured me. My father vowed that he would kill me if I didn’t change my ideas immediately. I wasn’t allowed to venture outside the home. They obliged me to read and listen to the Quran all day, in the hope that I would come back to the religion”.
Yari did not. Instead, he fled. According to him “After three weeks of living in this situation. I got a chance to run away from home. And I did. Now I am living with a friend in a nearby city. I told him that I had some family problem but I did not tell him the actual problem since he is a Muslim”. Yari asked for advice on how to confront the situation. And I have contacted an ex muslim in Nigeria for assistance.
Unfortunately, apostates in muslim dominated societies find themselves in a similar predicament. They live in fear for their lives following their loss of faith. In a war-torn country such as Somalia, where the jihadist group Al Shabab has been waging a violent campaign for an Islamic state, apostasy is a very risky undertaking. If you are interested in supporting ex-Muslims in Somalia and other parts of the region, please get in touch.
Comments
9 responses to “Leaving Islam: Message From Somalia”
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mathew11:28
Yari Article – hope to help
Message Hi Leo, I just read your article about Yari and I would like to help him. As a somali and an \”ex-muslim\” I am not a fan of that word because I didn\’t have a choice being born one even though I never considered myself I one either I know the struggles he faces. I fear if he stays in that country he will be in so much danger or needs help relocating somewhere safer in the country where he isn\’t compromised. Please let him know he can contact me on this email and I will give him any assistance I can afford. Thank you.
Brother.. Sincerely pray to God and ask him to show you the right path.. Make sincere prayer.. Please watch this video.. https://youtu.be/Jk0Xv1adP3s
May you be guided to the right path and may you see right as right and wrong as wrong.. Sincerely pray….. Please watch the video link I sent
Let him be. Atheists and Humanists are better people than Muslims because they are kind and accepting and never violent.
follow your heart niggah
it’s all about peace
This is not a big deal my brother, Islam has left him, he didn’t leave Islam. Before him there was Islam and without him there’ll be Islam. He cannot make Islam complete or incomplete. There’re thousands who embrace Islam globally and I’m one of those. Ever since I’ve had a kind of peace and tranquility in my heart which I never had it before. I’m now proud of myself been a Muslim. Because my facts are not based on media stereotypes.
Yesss, Islam always will be raise up
As a matter of fact,Yari is seeking for sympathy from non Muslims to get a greener pasture,and leave this lawless country named Somalia, otherwise he didn’t say exactly why he choosed to live his religion,can he tell us one or two things regarding Islam that forced him to quit???
I think it is precisely from this kind of one-side argument that he is fleeing.