Concerns grow for British missionary couple arrested in Gambia
by Anne Thomas
Posted: Monday, December 8, 2008, 11:45 (GMT)
Christians in the UK have expressed concern for a British missionary couple arrested on sedition charges in The Gambia.
David Fulton, 60, from Troon in Ayrshire and his wife Fiona, 46, from Torquay in Devon were arrested on 29 November and Mr Fulton is now being held in a high security prison.
The couple have lived in the largely Muslim country for the last 12 years and Mr Fulton was a chaplain in the Gambian army prior to his arrest.
They are accused of writing letters to "bring hatred or contempt, to excite disaffection against the president of the republic and the government of Gambia", according to Reuters news agency.
Mr Fulton is being held in the Mile Two prison just outside the Gambian capital, Banjul, and relatives say they have received reports that he is refusing to eat and is in poor health. Mrs Fulton and the couple’s daughter are being held at a police station in Banjul.
The pastor of Westhoughton Pentecostal Church, which supports Mr Fulton’s missionary work in The Gambia financially, said the congregation was praying for the couple.
“This is very serious and we are very concerned,” Pastor Martin Speed was quoted as saying by the Bolton News.
“We would like people to put pressure on the Government to ask for their release.
“Sedition is a very serious charge and we will be writing to people asking for their support.”
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Added: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 23:05 (GMT)
My god on december 5th 2005,,
The Irony is not lost on me, that 3 years ago he was helping myself and a friend after a bad motorbike accident in Banjul and now 3 years to the day he is facing this despairing situation....
David helped me after I had a traffic accident In Banjul, he rallied around helping me out of the hospital when i was unable to walk, he borrowed a wheelchair from a local health centre, and accompanied me many times when needing Doctors attention, he is a good compassionate man, God bless and be with him at this cross roads in his life.
clare dolan, manchester
Added: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 23:50 (GMT)
The koran does not say Christ is the son of God!
Jacqui, Cirencester UK
Added: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 23:48 (GMT)
How do they get away with it? They murder and kill Christians for their faith and yet 1 mention of anything against their beliefs and your as good as dead - very one sided - Islam. Why is the world so afraid of THEM? God bless them and show them the error of theirs ways and sho them His presence.
Jacqueline Brunger, Cirencester UK
Added: Monday, December 8, 2008, 21:45 (GMT)
Sedition is a serious charge, if you are causing unrest against a countries rulers. But how can the predominately Muslim country of Gambia claim this, when it clearly states in the Koran that Christ is the Mesiah, Son of God and a prophet.
People of both Christian and Muslim faiths have lost the real teachings of both books.
When will Muslims see that they are not alone and have no need to fear others. The same can be said of Christians also.
Geoff Aitchison, Hamilton, Scotland
