Christian Woman Held Five Months without Trial in Nigeria
11/10/2023 Nigeria (ICC)
A Christian woman and mother of five children, Rhoda Ya’u Jatau, was arrested in May on questionable charges of blasphemy and incitement. The prosecution completed its argument but the defense has not been able to testify because every time the defense comes to present its case, the court postpones the trial to a future date out of fear that the local population, which is 85 percent Muslim, may riot. Rhoda was arrested after sent a video condemning the lynching of a Christian student to some people she worked with, and when it was discovered by Muslim workers, she was accused of blasphemy and a riot ensued. Her family went into hiding and her husband sold all his belongings to finance his wife’s defense. Judges have repeatedly refused to grant to grant her bail, fearing Islamic rioting. Her trial date is November 27.
Please pray …
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Pray that the Lord will comfort and encourage Rhoda and her family at this difficult time.
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Pray that the Lord will give her lawyer wisdom and move the judge to be fair in his verdict.
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Pray that she will be declared innocent and be able to return home to her family.