SOMALILAND:ICC interviews tortured Somaliland Christian.

[Keyse_0208]

SOMALILAND:ICC interviews tortured Somaliland Christian.

Osman Nour Hassan is a Somali Christian convert from Islam. Imprisoned twice for his faith in Christ, Osman endured repeated torture at the hand of Somaliland authorities.
He was last arrested in August 2009 for his evangelistic activity. ICC helped him to escape the country immediately after he was released from prison in November.
We had the opportunity to interview Osman regarding his torture and imprisonment and have included his responses below:
Q. Please tell us, in detail, the kind of persecution you faced after coming to Jesus Christ.

My birth family ostracized me first. They rejected me and threatened me with physical violence. The Somaliland government arrested me in late 2002 and instructed me to give them the names of believers in Somaliland, especially those in the capital.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) tortured me painfully. I was stripped of all my clothing and I remember one officer who showed me a thorny rough stick in his hand. He threatened me he will forcefully insert it in my rectum if I did not name the believers in Hargeisa.
I am sorry to say but I gave them few names and they all ended up in prison for few months. The torture I suffered in prison included, humiliation, slapping, hitting, kicking, punching and scary threats .

Tell us about your latest imprisonment.
Q. Why did it happen? What accusations were brought against you?
I was arrested in Hargiesa on 3 August, 2009. The CID accused me of spreading Christianity in Somaliland and converting from Islam to Christianity, which is illegal in Somaliland.
I was thrown in jail and tortured after I refused to give them the names of believers in Somaliland. I spent the frst two weeks in Hargeisa Central prison. I was then transferred to Madhera Prison that is 60 kilometers from Hargeisa. This prison is for hardened criminals like murderers and rapists and other repeat offenders. The legal capacity of this prison is 100 prisoners but we were at least 800 prisoners all the time. I was fnally released on 19 November 2009. I walked 60 kilometers to Hargeisa because I did not have any money on me.
I was threatened beyond the comprehension of any civilized person. For example, one officer showed me syringe with “blood” in it and said that the blood is infected with HIV and he will inject me with it if I did not name the “infdels” in Hargeisa who are associated with me . I did not want to repeat the mistake I made in 2002, so I did not give in. The officer left me very disappointed.
No court in Somaliland sentenced me. The hated group, Guddiga Nabadgelyada (The Security Committee), sentenced me. Members of this committee include: Hargeisa Mayor, Hargeisa Region Police Chief, the Intelligence Chief, The Minister of Religious Affairs and the homeland Security Minister.
Q. How did you get out of prison?
My story ended up in the international press and websites and papers from Somaliland republished them. The government felt pressured to release me. The Rayale government hates pressures from the human rights groups and Christian advocacy groups like the International Christian Concern (ICC).
A Muslim relative of mine who works with the government promised to the government that I will not leave Hargeisa or talk to any foreigners so I was released and fed to Ethiopia, especially thanks to ICC for the financial gift that enabled me to escape. I believe I would still be in prison if Christian advocacy groups like ICC never reported my arrest.
Q: Are Muslims in Somaliland and in Somalia open to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Many Muslims in Somaliland and Somalia are very open to the Gospel. We need trained and courageous believers to share the liberating Gospel of the Messiah.
Q: How can Christians in the West pray for you and for Somalia?
We need the support of our brothers and sisters around the world. We need their prayers and we need them to speak for us when we cannot speak for ourselves.

Source:Medeshi

[Siciid85]

"I was threatened beyond the comprehension of any civilized person. For example, one officer showed me syringe with “blood” in it and said that the blood is infected with HIV and he will inject me with it if I did not name the “infdels” in Hargeisa who are associated with me"

[abdikarim86]

bullshit .....i idiot probably came up with this
so he could apply for asylum

[senoritaa]

and scary threats .

[rich-boy]

thats bullshit ive seen a cisse muuse christian in hargeysa nobody try shit to him lol i never knew slapping was a form of torture but this guy was spreading christianism and trying to convert people what did he think was going to happen to him when he get caught