Friday, December 19, 2008

Update on David and Fiona Fulton

fultons This morning our good friends at Christian Solidarity Worldwide in the United Kingdom sent out an update on David and Fiona Fulton, the British missionaries in  Gambia who have been accused of writing letters to individuals and organizations abroad to "bring into hatred or contempt, to excite disaffection against the President of the Republic and the government of the Gambia."  The CSW report reads, in part:

As you are aware, Fiona was due to be transferred from a police cell to a prison where conditions could prove challenging, and had been separated from the couple’s baby daughter Elizabeth, who was being cared for by an elderly friend of the family. In addition, the couple was due to appear at a court hearing on Tuesday 16 December.

The relatively good news is that Fiona has been allowed to remain in a cell at Banjul Police Station, where conditions are significantly better than those she would have encountered in the prison.  However, she is reported to be “struggling psychologically”, and remains deeply affected by the continuing separation from Elizabeth who, thankfully, is still being cared for by the family friend.

Unfortunately, David remains in solitary confinement in a 5ft by 5ft cell where a bucket serves as a latrine.  He has not eaten since his incarceration on 4 December, and his visibly deteriorating physical condition at last Tuesday’s hearing, where he was described as “weak” and “going down hill”, is causing increasing concern,

At Tuesday’s hearing the trial was adjourned until 22 and 24 December, when the prosecution will present its case, along with several of its witnesses.  This will be the first time the Fultons or their lawyer learn the full nature of the evidence against them.  However, it remains unclear whether the couple’s lawyer will be obliged to mount a defence during the second of next week’s hearings, or whether, as has been suggested, the trial will be adjourned for a month in order to give the defence enough time to prepare its case.  Either option is problematic.  On the one hand it would be difficult to prepare an adequate defence in such a short timeframe.  On the other, a further adjournment would affect David’s declining physical condition adversely, even endangering his life. 

Please pray:

  • Give thanks that Elizabeth remains in safe hands, and that Fiona has not had to face the difficult prison conditions.
  • Continue to pray for David’s health and that God would comfort, encourage, strengthen and sustain him.  Also pray that He would strengthen, comfort and restore Fiona.
  • Pray that the case against the couple would be dismissed and that the family would soon be allowed to leave the country.
  • Pray for the Fulton’s children and extended family members who are in the UK, that God would draw close to them and strengthen them at this difficult time.
  • Pray for the Lord’s continued protection over those in the Gambia who are trying to assist the family, and for wisdom and success in ongoing advocacy efforts in the UK and in the Gambia on behalf of the family.
  • Finally continue to pray for finances to cover the costs of the trial.

Take action!

Please consider sending cards of encouragement to David and Fiona.  However, please refrain from commenting on the trial, charges or prison conditions, and take great care to avoid writing any remarks that could be construed as critical of or offensive to the president, government or people of The Gambia:

Mr David Fulton
Mile Two Prison
Banjul
The Gambia

Mrs Fiona Fulton
Central Police Station
Banjul
The Gambia

Please uphold this couple in your prayers and do take the time to send this dear couple a card to let them know that they are loved and prayed for during this difficult time.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am praying for them both,they are wonderful christian people who love the people in Gambia and want to share Jesus with them.I believe they are innocent and want them to come home.I have a page on Facebook called free fiona and dave fulton.please join and leave a message of support thanks k m hill

Anonymous said...

I am praying for them as well, as they are my brother and sister in Christ and share my surname. Oh, that God's strength would be seen and known in David and Fiona and Elizabeth!

Thanks for putting the sight on facebook!

God's Peace,

Don

Anonymous said...

I will definitely be praying for them!!! I saw God deliver an old college friend of mine out of an impossible situation back in the late 90's [a Zimbabwe prison]; God did it for three of them back then, He can do it again now ... it just takes faith and people willing to pray. (Can money be raised to help them?)
A sister in Christ, Lynn

Anonymous said...

May Almighty God fill them with the Holy Spirit that they will be sustained to live faithfully in Christ. May they, like Peter and Paul and the other saints of God's holy family witness to and teach those whom God sends to them that God may be honored and glorified as their eyes are opened. I pray that David and Fiona bring many to faith in jesus Christ. Their thrones are waiting for them in God's time.

Pray without ceasing for David, Fiona, and all persecuted faithful.

Dongus

Anonymous said...

Fiona is a friend of mine but i have heard nothing since they were jailed. Does anyone have an update? Can the British gov. do anything to help them?
Sare in Paignton

Glenn Penner said...

Yes, just today, BBC reported that David Fulton, 60, has now been charged with forgery and impersonating an officer. He could face an additional one-and-a-half years in prison if convicted. I don't think the UK govt is motivated to do much as it has come to light that he is not the helpless victim of persecution that some initially believed them to be.

Anonymous said...

He has been charged and not allowed a lawyer. It seems secular journalists also have a pattern of being killed and imprisoned. This is not a safe country.