By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife
TRIPOLI, LIBYA (BosNewsLife)– Libya has released a Ghanian believer who was sentenced in 2001 to 25 years in prison for importing evangelistic materials, a major rights group involved in the case confirmed Monday, May 4.
Middle East Concern (MEC) said Daniel Baidoo was freed April 29 following a plea for clemency by the vice president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama to the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Baidoo, 37, left for Ghana the following day, MEC said. The Christian man was detained eight years ago after authorities discovered he had been asking Christian literature from what MEC described as “a media ministry”.
“He wrote in English, but the ministry saw his address and sent him materials in Arabic, a language he doesn’t speak,” MEC told BosNewsLife.
“When our brother went to the post office to collect the materials he was arrested for importing evangelistic materials and imprisoned in the notorious Jedidah Prison.”
He apparently continued to evangelize while in prison. MEC said Christians had been praying for his release. In an e-mailed message to supporters MEC asked to pray that Baidoo “will know the Lord’s peace and psychological and emotional healing as he adjusts to his new freedom.”
MEC also urged Christians to pray that, “those with whom he shared the love of Christ while in prison would be equipped by the Holy Spirit to grow strong in their faith” as well as all other believers and that “all officials involved will be exposed to the truth of Jesus and consider their response.”
It comes amid concerns about reports of persecution of Christians in Libya.
