Nigeria: Girl in Hiding After Scalded for Converting
Oct 02 2007
Postings >> Nigeria

A young Nigerian girl is in hiding after her mother threw boiling water over her for turning her back on Islam and becoming a Christian.

The 15-year-old, identified only as Farida, horrified her staunchly Muslim family last December when she turned to Christ. Her husband, a soldier, immediately divorced her -- and her relatives refused to take her in for several weeks. Her family later took her back, but kept up the pressure on her to return to Islam.

One day, her mother asked Farida to heat water till it was 'hot enough to remove flesh from a chicken'. She then turned on Farida and asked her to choose between Christ and being scalded. Farida, who was pregnant at the time, chose Christ. She received serious burns to her arm and chest as her mother doused her in boiling water.

Farida was taken in by the church but remains in great danger: Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that people 'with suspicious motives' have recently tracked her down. She has also just given birth to a daughter who was delivered safely.

Act:

• Christian Solidarity Worldwide is holding a prayer event for Nigeria as a whole on Saturday 13 October, 2-6pm, at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (Inspiration House), 54-80 Ossory Road, London SE1 5AN (nearest Tube: Elephant and Castle). For more details, call 0845 456 5464.

Pray:

• Ask God to watch over Farida and her daughter, and to strengthen her faith.
• Thank God for Farida's church family who are caring for her. Pray that her own Muslim family will accept her decision to follow Christ.