This is late (18 Feb 2014), it slipped through the cracks somewhere, none the less it’s an important answer to prayer!

On February 6th 2014 an appeals court judge in Morocco overturned the conviction of a Moroccan convert to Christianity who had been sentenced to 30 months in prison on a charge of proselytism.

The judge in the Court of Appeal in Fez dismissed the case against Mohammed el Baladi, 31, because of lack of evidence… The case has ended.

El Baladi was arrested in August 2013 and less than a week later his case was heard in a court with no legal representation and he was found guilty, fined and sentenced to prison.

Human rights advocates said his hearing was irregular at best.

In September he was released from prison to await his court appeal, which is unusual. Some say this is due to the international attention El Baladi’s case received thanks to Moroccan human rights advocates, organisations such as Amnesty International, and Moroccan Christians in the diaspora.

We praise God for the outcome of this February court appeal and we trust that it will be a boost and encouragement for the Moroccan house-church movement.

How can we pray?

• Praise God for His intervention in Mohammed el Baladi’s life and situation.
• Praise God for the appeal court judge who made the decision to overturn the original conviction.
• Pray for El Baladi that he be strengthened and emboldened through this experience.
• Ask God to give El Baladi many opportunities to share his testimony.
• Ask God to give the Moroccan Church wisdom to discern what God is saying to them about the status of the Church in Morocco. Is now the time to begin pressing for greater freedom and recognition?