"There have not been more indigenous Libyan Christians in recent times than now. At the same time, the persecution is worse than it has been for a long time." So says Ali, as we call him here for safety reasons. The Danish European Mission has supported Ali and his team's work for five years. Ali is a strong man, but you can feel that he is moved when he talks about the suffering of Libyan Christians.
According to the World Religion Database at Boston University, there were 36,000 Christians in Libya in 2020. However, the vast majority are Christian guest workers from countries like Egypt, the Philippines and sub-Saharan Africa. They have churches where they can legally meet. The number of Muslims who have become Christians may be in the hundreds, but Ali only personally knows of around 70 Christian converts.
"According to official statistics, there are no Christian converts in Libya. Libya is predominantly a Sunni Muslim country and converting to the Christian faith is punishable by death."
Read more about the situation of the church in Libya...
Since longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was removed from power in 2011 with Western support, two governments have been vying for power in Libya, one based in Tripoli and the other in Tobruk. "It's a paradox that Europe and the US support the Tripoli government even though it does not guarantee freedom of religion," Ali adds with wonder in his eyes.
Islamist militants introduce Sharia law
In this tense situation, with a lack of legitimate authorities, there is a power vacuum where extremist, militant Salafist movements can play a major role. In both the eastern and western parts of the country, policing and intelligence tasks are partially delegated to such groups. There are also examples of them acting as moral police by demanding gender segregation in public gatherings, banning the sale of certain books and requiring women to dress Islamically. Not only Christians, but also atheists, feminists and humanists risk persecution.
We can see that many Libyans are thirsty and want to hear about Jesus. Our challenge is to train the new believers - Ali
"They are introducing Islamic law into society," Ali exclaims. "The Salafist militants are conducting a long-term campaign to expose Libyan Christians. They track converts by systematically going through phones, checking contacts and collecting information."
Families surrender Christian family members to police
The persecution is not only from Islamists, but also reaches deep into families and circles of friends. "One example is a man whose uncle stabbed his nephew with a knife because he had become a Christian. He was allowed to lie in his own blood in his room. He managed to call a friend who came with his father. The friend's father was assertive enough to take him to the hospital where he was treated. When he got home, his family avoided him and spoke negatively to him, even his mother. When he went outside, he saw that the family had killed his dog. The family thought he had become a Christian because an evil spirit had been transferred from the dog to him."
Read about Dia Balao from Libya whose father reported him to the police...
"I gave counseling to the young man," Ali says with a caring smile. "I told him, 'Nothing can tear you out of God's love. Jesus will never let you go. Ask Jesus to give you strength'. He slowly started seeking Jesus again and finished his education."
"You can lose your job and friends if you become a Christian. Because of norms, many don't dare to do anything but disown converts. There is an example of a family handing over a daughter to the secret police because she had become a Christian. Converts have nowhere to hide in Libya."
People want to hear about Jesus and the underground church is growing despite persecution
But there is a backlash against Islam in Libyan society. According to the 2019 Arab Barometer poll, as many as 35.5 % of 18-29 year olds in Libya described themselves as non-religious.
"Many young people hate Islam. When they hear an imam say that shorts and modern hairstyles are forbidden, that women are worth less than men and polygamy is allowed, many young people think that the imams live on another planet. The Islamic scholars make things worse for Islam with their religious explanations for everything."
"The underground church is growing despite the persecution. Especially at this time when several of our brothers are in prison, believers are cautious about meeting face to face. But we can see that many Libyans are thirsty and want to hear about Jesus. Our challenge is to train the new believers."
"Pray for Libya, pray for our people and pray for the believers," Ali concludes.
