Thankfully, the reality that Nigeria is among the most dangerous places to be a Christian today is gaining worldwide attention. But that doesn’t make the everyday stories of persecution any less harrowing.
We recently introduced you to Rhoda Jatau, a courageous Christian mother of five and a lifelong civil servant in Nigeria whose story embodies resilience, conviction, and the lack of freedom of religious belief in her home country.
Rhoda was accused of blasphemy merely for allegedly sharing a social media message condemning the brutal killing of a university student, who was stoned to death for sharing her Christian faith.
As a result, Rhoda’s neighbourhood was ransacked, and she was criminally charged.
Blasphemy laws or Islamic Sharia laws have spread throughout the northern Nigerian states, leading to increasing persecution of Christians. Sharia law inspires hostility and mob violence against Christians in Nigeria.
And even though Christians are not supposed to be subject to Sharia law, they are regularly hauled before Sharia courts on false accusations.
For 19 months, Rhoda endured the harsh confines of prison, away from her home and five children.
Can you imagine being separated from your family, suffering imprisonment and criminal treatment over a sympathetic social media post? Most of us have shared similar sentiments when discussing the daily news over dinner with our friends and family.
With our support and the dedication of her lawyer on the ground, Rhoda was released on bail last December. However, her story isn’t over. She still needs our support as her trial continues.
Will you stand with Rhoda and others like her, championing their right to speak freely and live without fear?
Rhoda’s experience, like that of countless Christians in Nigeria, highlights the harsh realities that many Christians endure during this persecution and the ongoing fight to restore religious freedom in Nigeria.
