Photo: USCIRF
Earlier this year, Dedi Saputra allegedly posted a video on TikTok that criticized the prophet Muhammad. Before the video was removed from the social media platform, it had been viewed almost two million times – sparking a backlash that culminated in his arrest on February 18th. For more information regarding this case, see VOMC's previously posted Persecution & Prayer Alert report.
On July 10th, a court in Aceh Province declared the convert from Islam guilty of blasphemy and hate speech. As a result, Dedi received a sentence of two years' imprisonment, which includes the time he has already served in detainment since his arrest. As prosecutors were originally demanding a longer prison term, there is the possibility that they may attempt to appeal the current sentence.
- As Dedi patiently awaits his hopeful early release from detention, may he experience God's promised help, encouragement, protection and strength – along with opportunities to display the Lord's compassion to all those around him.
- In the interim, ask the Lord to also mediate judicially on his behalf, so that the prosecutors' attempts to extend Dedi's prison term will not prevail; instead, may this believer's sentence be substantially reduced.
- Pray that Christians throughout the island nation of Indonesia will continue boldly declaring the "Good News of the Gospel" in ways that bring both conviction and repentance, so many more lives can be transformed by God's sacrificial love and the eternal spiritual truths contained within His infallible Word.
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