Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12
Sulaymaan Mahamed Sulaymaan and
Ahmed ‘Goode’ Diiriye (1994)
“Infidels” Targeted
Sulaymaan and Ahmed, two Somali Christians from a Muslim background, were shot dead on 24 August 1994 in Mogadishu, Somalia, by the most prominent group of Islamic radicals in the country at the time, Al-Ittihad (Islamic Unity). Sulaymaan was gunned down on a bus as he was returning home from work and Ahmed was shot near a milk factory. Ahmed had been a Christian for over 20 years and had often been persecuted for his faith. He had been a fearless witness and had shown the love of Christ in his medical work. At the time of his death, he had been working as a nurse at the eye clinic where he had been trained by a Christian group in the 1980s. Several days after the shooting, a note was found outside a relief agency that said, “Liibaan: gaal Sulaymaan: gaal Goode: gaal”. “Gaal” is Somali for “infidel”. Liibaan Xasan had been killed by Muslim extremists earlier in the year (see March 21).
Who are these like stars appearing,
these, before God’s throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is wearing;
who are all this glorious band?
Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
praising loud their heavenly King.
Heinrich Theobald Schenk (1656-1727)
Translated by Frances Elizabeth Cox (1812-1897)