Open Doors highlighted in April the story of a Yemeni woman who converted from Islam to Christianity.
Yemen is a tribal country, where leaving Islam is seen as a betrayal of that tribe, punishable by death. Nadeen (name changed) was born and raised in Yemen, and became a Christian in her late 20s before the civil war broke out in 2015.
She had to keep her new faith hidden as her family would probably disown her if they knew. Yemen ranks ninth on the Open Doors 2017 World Watch List of the 50 countries in which it is most difficult to live as a Christian.
Fellowship via Facebook
Nadeen had to live her faith in isolation – Christians cannot gather openly in Yemen, and for Nadeen as a single woman it was especially hard to escape the house. However, via Facebook, she connected with other Christians in her area. She found a job with a bank and was able to move more freely, allowing her to meet with them.
That is how she met a Christian man, who is now her husband. Their wedding had no references to Christianity: ‘As only Islamic wedding rituals are allowed in Yemen, I had an Islamic wedding that was arranged by the family,’ Nadeen explains.
As she has decided to not tell her family of her faith yet, it is easier for her and her husband to stay in Yemen. Those who expose their faith often have to flee and to sever family ties.
