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Istanbul
Former Muslim on trial


A former Muslim on trial for his life in Yemen for converting to Christianity was brought before a prosecutor unannounced July 9 without access to any legal counsel, his lawyer said.

Somali refugee Mohammed Omer Haji was given a seven-day ultimatum to either return to Islam or face the death penalty for committing apostasy. He was scheduled to appear before Aden’s First Court in Tawahi on July 12 to give the judge his answer, but that appearance was pushed back a week.

Haji is likely to be deported back to Somali on account of his apostasy and illegal entry into Yemen. Haji has been charged under Article 259 of Yemen’s criminal law with committing apostasy, a capital offense under the Muslim’s laws of “sharia” enforced in Yemen.

Haji, 27, converted to Christianity two years ago. A refugee registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Aden, Haji came to Yemen in 1994. Haji and his wife Sarah have a seven-month-old son.

 – Compass Direct

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Last modified August 12, 2000.

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