Evangelist Beaten, Stabbed and Jailed, but Never Stops Preaching Jesus
Hatun Tash, a former Muslim turned Christian evangelist, has faced violent persecution for her bold proclamation of the Gospel. From being chased by angry mobs to enduring stabbings, unlawful arrests and the constant threat of death, Tash’s story is a chilling reminder that even in a nation like England, standing for Jesus can come with a high price.
Tash embraced Christianity after moving to England. Her conversion began with a critical examination of Islam and the life of its prophet, Muhammad. “As I read [Muhammad’s] biography, it was very disturbing to me. So, the man you grew up to love and honor suddenly turns out to be like, yeah, not good, not good. And I decided, I can’t be Muslim,” Tash explains, as reported by CBN News.
Her search for truth ultimately led her to the Gospel, where she discovered a God unlike any she had known. “As you dig into it, you get to meet with a God who is not silent or far or distant from you, but you meet with a God who loves you, who pours out Himself on you. And not only that, He just puts Himself on the cross and then says, ‘I love you from everlasting to everlasting, Come to Me,'” she says.
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Driven by this newfound hope, Tash often took her message to Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park, a well-known hub for vigorous debates on faith and philosophy. There, she openly challenges Islam, declaring Muhammad a false prophet and exalting Jesus as the Son of God. Her words often spark intense reactions. In one instance, a man slashed her face with a knife, leaving her physically scarred but spiritually resolute.
While police have compensated her for wrongful arrests, such as a humiliating strip-search and jailing two years ago, they have yet to apprehend those who have attempted to kill her. Andrea Williams of Christian Concern, which has defended Tash, criticized the lack of justice. “The truth is that those who have attempted to kill her have been caught on camera. The police know who they are, but they have not been arrested. She is feared by and targeted by Muslim groups because she is fearless for the Gospel. She loves Jesus so much that nothing will halt her.”
Tash’s determination remains unshaken. She continues to stand outside mosques, debating with Muslims, even as danger lurks. “I would simply stand in front of the mosques, and I’d say, ‘Muhammad is a false prophet. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Tell me, what are your objections?’ Hundreds of Muslims just stop and then they want to talk to you. Sometimes you get harmed, sometimes it gets dangerous. Sometimes you end up in hospitals, sometimes you end up in people’s homes for a cup of tea,” she reveals.
Her mission is simple: to share the Gospel regardless of the cost. “I don’t care whether people reject me or not. They need to hear the Gospel,” Tash stated.
Tash knows her life is in constant jeopardy but finds solace in her faith in Jesus Christ. “Things are dangerous. Should I choose to stay silent? Like when people are spending 5,000 pounds to buy a gun, to shoot you and shoot your loved ones? The Gospel is so glorious, I cannot be silent. And the Lord is the giver of life. So, when it’s my time, He will take me home. But until He gives me breath, we continue to preach.”
Tash’s story exemplifies the promise Jesus made to His followers: persecution is inevitable for those who live and speak the truth of the Gospel. She stands as a modern witness to Jesus’ words in John 16:33: “In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
While Tash’s bravery inspires Christians to declare their faith boldly, it also serves as a sobering reminder of the persecution that often accompanies it. In a world hostile to truth, she clings to our Savior who endured the ultimate persecution so that others might find eternal life.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
