Libya (MNN) — Libya remains one of the most difficult places in the world follow Christ.
Marina*, a Libyan Christian of Muslim origin, describes daily examples of persecution in a recent conversation with Voice of Martyrs Canada:
“When the father of a young woman discovered that she was Christian, he beat his daughter several times and closed and locked the door. He did not allow her to use the toilet. She was treated like an animal. She was beaten again and again.
“Another lady’s Muslim husband divorced her when he found out she was Christian. When his son was born, the husband did not allow his son to bear his name. The boy will therefore not be able to go to school or have an identity. She has suffered since becoming a Christian.
Libya remains under interim regime and the Christian minority is persecuted by the authorities. authorities, security forces and independent militias. There are few believers in Libya, and that is extremely difficult so that they openly practice their faith.
Christians are beaten, rejected by their Muslim families and friends, and sometimes killed.
“Let me tell you the story of a brother,” says Omar*, another Libyan who left Islam to follow Jesus.
“When he accepted Jesus into his life, he began to share his faith with his family, and they told radical Muslims about it. They were going to kill him like an infidel,” Omar continues.
“Under sharia law, he was put in prison and the judge said he should be killed.”
Pray that believers of Muslim origin will hold on in Libya despite threats of suffering and death.
(Photo courtesy of Prayercast)
“If they grow in their faith and know that Jesus said they would be persecuted, they will resist abandoning their faith under persecution. But those who do not grow up will return to Islam,” says Marina.
Hope remains for Libya, but so does danger. Please pray using the prompts listed next to this report.
“Many people are curious to understand and know and have good questions, but some say bad things about us,” says Omar.
“I share the Word of God and my new life and Christ in very closed groups. I can’t share with anyone.
*Pseudonyms
Header image is a representative photo courtesy of Benjamin Price/Unsplash.
