PALLISA, Uganda — A Ugandan mother of four was beaten by her father and forced to ingest mosquito repellent because she left Islam, divorced her Muslim husband and married a Christian.
Hajira Namusobya said her ex-husband had beaten and tortured her so severely that she attempted suicide.
In February 2020 she made a profession of faith in Christ, but kept it a secret. She later divorced her Muslim husband, who took custody of the children.
Namusobya found a job and met and married a Christian.
Visiting her parents in Pallisa on July 31, she told them about her re-marriage. Her father demanded she renounce Christianity and return to her former husband. When she refused, her father beat her and forced her to consume mosquito repellent.
A moderate Muslim neighbor heard Namusobya’s cries, rescued her and took her to a hospital, where she was unconscious three days. After leaving the hospital, she went to a safe house away from her Christian husband to protect him.
Uganda’s laws and constitution allow religious freedom; less than 12% of the population is Muslim.
