By Our Staff Reporter
IPNEWS: In a story that has stirred debate across communities, a young man named Mohammed Jabbie has found himself at the center of controversy after converting from Islam to Christianity.
According to reports, Mohammed Jabbie, some times in 2025, made a decision to stop going to the mosque and began going to church after several resentments from his families.
Friends describe Jabbie as a thoughtful and determined individual who made his decision after months of personal reflection.
“He wanted to follow his conscience. It wasn’t about rejecting his family, but about embracing what he felt was true,” one of his friends told this paper.
However, his choice has not been welcomed by all and reports suggest that members of his immediate and extended families have reacted with hostility, leaving Jabbie fearful for his safety.
Local church leaders have stepped in to provide shelter and support, emphasizing that freedom of belief is a fundamental right but Jabbie has found it difficult to move around freely.
Human rights advocates who spoke to this paper said that Jabbie’s situation highlights the broader issue of religious intolerance.
“No one should face threats or violence for their faith. This is about protecting basic freedoms,” said Pastor John Freeman of Christ Evangelical Church.
As of now, Jabbie remains in hiding, supported by a small network of friends and faith leaders. His story has sparked conversations about coexistence, tolerance, and the challenges faced by those who choose a different spiritual path.
in Liberia, Muslims who convert to Christianity often face significant social and familial reprisals, despite the country’s secular constitution and legal guarantees for religious freedom.
Reprisals are primarily informal and occur at the community or family level:
Converts are frequently disowned, cursed, or rejected by their families and friends, which can lead to extreme isolation.
Reports indicate that converts have been threatened, beaten, and physically assaulted by relatives intent on forcing them to return to Islam.
Families may cut off financial support or strip converts of their inheritance.
Fear of persecution has led some newly converted Christians to flee their homes and seek safety in other villages or neighboring countries.
In some cases, converts face the threat of having their children taken away to be raised as Muslims or being forced into marriages with strict practitioners of the faith.
While Liberia is approximately 85.5% Christian and 12.2% Muslim, these two groups generally coexist peacefully. However, the act of “breaking away” from Islam is often viewed by conservative family members as a betrayal of their heritage and “true religion,” leading to these retaliatory actions.
