Maria Yusuf, from Boreda, Ethiopia, was killed after her husband beat her for her refusal to recant her Christian faith on 22 June.
Yusuf was a Muslim when she married but became a Christian two years ago – converts from Islam are often placed under tremendous pressure to return.
A Christian acquaintance arrived at the scene of the crime just before Yusuf died to hear her say repeatedly, “He killed me”. The husband has been arrested and Yusuf’s autopsy has not yet been made public.
According to Open Doors Maria endured regular beating from her husband for converting to Christianity, a situation she had earlier reported to the police. Despite Christians making up the majority of the population in the area they have been facing considerable pressure from local Muslims and officials.