The Seventh Day Adventist church in Kisumu had invited 87-year-old Sarah Obama -- a Muslim -- to a function, where she was allegedly to be baptised. CREDIT: Photo by AFP, Getty Images.

From Agence France-Presse

A Protestant church in Kenya is trying to convert U.S. President Barack Obama’s step-grandmother to Christianity against her will, a Muslim group said this week, condemning the move as provocation.

The Seventh Day Adventist church in the western town of Kisumu had invited 87-year-old Sarah Obama — a Muslim — to a function on Saturday, where she was allegedly to be baptised.

According to relatives in her village of Kogelo, “Mama Sarah”, as she is popularly known in the U.S. president’s paternal homeland, was surprised by the offer and declined to attend.

“I regret the attempt by the Christian religion to force her to convert,” Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa, the organising secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, told AFP.

“Why only her? Why not before Obama became president? Didn’t they see her before he became president? We are ready to protect our religion,” he said.

Said Obama, a step-brother to the U.S. president, said the church pastors had approached Sarah Obama with news that she could become a Christian.

“Mama (Sarah) was born a Muslim and wishes to die a Muslim. The issue of conversion is neither here not there,” he said.

Khalifa denounced the move as a “provocation.”

. . . Click Here to read the complete Article .

Tags: Barack Obama, Christianity, grandmother, Kenya, Kisumu, Mama Sarah, Muslim, Seventh Day Adventist

Short URL: http://tinyurl.com/y8d5oxp