Nigeria - Saliha

Eighteen year-old Saliha was born and raised in a Christian family of subsistence farmers. Her life was simple and she was happy. This changed in the blink of an eye when her father became a Muslim. He attempted to persuade his wife and daughter to convert to Islam. When it became clear that they would not, Saliha’s father disowned them. Although only eight at the time, Saliha vividly remembers watching her mother as she packed their few belongings and moved in with their grandparents. For a few years her life was peaceful – then her mother announced that she planned to re-marry.

After the wedding Saliha was forced to live with her elder brother because her mother’s new husband could not provide for them both. During this lonely time in her life, she became a devoted member of the local church. Saliha was making good progress at working through the pain of separation, when her elder brother renounced Christ to become a Muslim and began pressuring her to convert to Islam. When she refused to renounce her faith, her brother then took her on a 100 km journey back to her father, leaving her in his care.

Saliha was told that she was now a Muslim and was forced to attend the local Islamic school. After several months of misery she ran away and went to her former pastor who found a family that was willing to take her in.

Open Doors met with Saliha, now eighteen years old, at an Islamic Awareness seminar. She shared that she still feels very lonely but her eyes remain firmly fixed on Jesus Christ. Please write letters of encouragement to Saliha as she adjusts to separation from her family.

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