KAMPALA, Uganda — Seventeen days after placing his faith in Christ Jesus, a teacher at an Islamic school in Uganda was beaten to death.
Four of the brothers of Wanjala Hamidu, 32, beat him to death Oct. 21 in their village of Masita, reports Morning Star News.
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Hamidu — a teacher at Swidiki Islamic School in Nankoma — professed faith in Christ Jesus on Oct. 4 during an evangelistic event in Bulange. A brother who also attended the event informed Muslim family members of the decision.
Upon learning about his conversion, school administrators decided to fire Hamidu at the end of term, sources told Morning Star.
Refused to renounce faith
School administrators allowed four of Hamidu’s brothers to take Hamidu from the school. Once they had him back in Masita village, the four demanded that he renounce his faith in Jesus. Hamidu refused and the four hit him 39 times, the supposed Islamic punishment for apostasy, states Morning Star, quoting a Christian source. Hamidu died from the injuries.
Approximately 12% of Uganda’s population is Muslim. Uganda’s constitution and laws allow for freedom of religion, including converting from one faith to another. However, Christian churches increasingly have received threats of violence, and some Christian converts have been attacked, killed or excommunicated by Muslim family members, the World Atlas reported.
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