Issue 2: The Silent Suffering of Christians in Yemen
The focus this week is on Christians in Yemen.
Yemen is a deeply Islamic, tribal society. Apostasy — leaving Islam — is punishable by death. Converts face intense family and societal pressure, often leading to violence. The ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis exacerbate the vulnerability of Christians, making aid distribution challenging and often discriminatory.
Read the detailed account here
What follows is a summary of the story of Khaled and Samira, a Christian family who endured persecution for an extended period of time, and lost Samira ten years ago. They continue to face challenges today. Last year, an updated report on their situation was obtained. In this blog, we will share how they became Christians, the persecution they faced, and where they are now.
Khaled’s story of persecution begins where his faith in Islam ended. He was a teacher of Islamic studies and always been taught (and had taught others) that Christians were morally inferior.
He began questioning Islam after realising that the Quran validated his father’s poor treatment, including beatings, of his mother.
“I knew by criticising my father’s actions, I was criticising Islam,” he recalled.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Khaled led the call to prayer at his mosque. Later that day, he watched in horror as hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. The cheers of Muslims sitting nearby sickened him.
“I was really upset and sad,” he said. “Three thousand people were killed. I thought, “What kind of religion is that?””
That day, Khaled immediately decided to leave Islam.
Accepting Christ: Khaled, once an Islamic studies teacher, secretly explored the Gospel of Matthew and a Christian radio program, leading him to accept Christ and begin living out his new faith in secrecy under the threat of persecution.
Sharing his faith with Samira: Eventually revealed his faith to his wife, who noticed his transformation and also chose to follow Christ.
Family in hiding: Stopped attending mosque with their four children; lived as secret believers to avoid persecution.
Step of courage: After two years, Khaled agreed to baptism in Aden; Samira and the children came along, and Samira also chose baptism.
In 2012, photos of Samira’s baptism were leaked online and on DVDs, exposing the family’s identity and address.
Khaled was branded “The Big Evangelist,” beaten by colleagues, and constantly threatened with death.
Their car, home, and even pets were attacked; Samira was publicly assaulted by a relative, breaking her arm.
Police refused to protect them, saying she “deserved it” for being Christian.
Their children faced abuse at school, adding to the family’s suffering.
By 2014, surrounded by hostility and death threats, Khaled planned to flee Yemen—but tragedy struck before they could escape.
On June 9, 2014, Khaled awoke to find Samira engulfed in flames after gasoline had been poured into her cooking oil.
Their children tried to help; their son was burned while attempting to smother the fire.
At the hospital, Samira suffered third-degree burns, but care was denied or withheld because of her Christian faith.
An imam was sent to pressure her back to Islam, and doctors gave unsafe treatment.
On June 25, after a suspicious injection, Samira died at age 33.
Before her death, she forgave everyone who persecuted her, including those responsible for her burns.
Evidence suggests Samira’s doctor intentionally killed her with a lethal potassium injection because she left Islam.
After her death, villagers spread false rumors blaming Khaled and trying to discredit their faith. Despite deep loss, Khaled publicly forgave all who persecuted him in a 2016 Facebook post saying:
“Everyone who persecuted me verbally, with their actions, by encouraging others to persecute me — any way direct or indirect — I forgive you.”
With help from VOM, he and his children fled Yemen in August 2014, but persecution continued in their new country.
Khaled is now seeking asylum for his family in another country.
Khaled earns a small income by teaching Arabic to refugee children, using passages of Scripture to build their vocabulary.
He continues to reach out through social media to family members and former students in Yemen. Many have requested Bibles — and some have come to faith in Christ.
Khaled’s words:
“When I think about our story, the only thing I can think is that God is preparing us for something bigger … to serve Him,” Khaled says smiling. “It is in layer after layer of persecution that He changes us to be like Him.”
“Praise the Lord for what happened, because right now I have nothing to lose.”
A prayer for the encouragement and protection for Khaled, his children and all the persecuted church:
May the Lord protect Khaled, his children and all persecuted Christians in all places from harm, danger, and persecution. May He shield them from violence, grant safety in their daily lives, and surround them with His angels as they courageously live out their faith. Amen. May He bring justice, healing, and peace to regions like Yemen, and all other places where Christians are persecuted. May the persecuted find refuge, encouragement, and a renewed sense of purpose in You Lord Jesus. Amen.
