Somalia (ICC) Islamic Somali militants confiscate Christian farms

Published February 6, 2011 |

Since January 19, members of Al-Shabaab, an Islamic Somali extremist group, have confiscated eight farms from Muslims who showed an interest in Christianity. Five of the farms were owned by Christian converts from Islam and three belonged to Muslims who had attended Bible studies in the cities of Afgoye and Baidawa.

Most of the landowners fled their homes and remain in hiding. There are also unconfirmed reports of additional Christian farm seizures in Dinsor and Burhakaba districts.

Al-Shabaab handed over the confiscated lands to businessmen who regularly donate to the group. The Islamic group has vowed to cleanse Somalia of any Christian influence. Since January 2009, Al-Shabaab has killed 23 Christians, most of whom were church leaders. Al-Shabaab has also desecrated three Christian cemeteries in Mogadishu and destroyed a Christian library in the Luuq district.

The Somali church has demonstrated remarkable growth despite intense persecution from Muslim radicals.