Release International

An Indonesia clothes trader has been jailed for four-and-a-half years -- for sharing his faith with his customers.

Abraham Bentar Rohadi, who is 55 and from West Java, was charged with blasphemy after telling clients that Jesus had appeared to him in a dream and healed him of a stroke. It was Rohadi's brother-in-law who reported him to the authorities, accusing him of trying to spread Christianity and blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed. Soon afterwards, when Rohadi was visiting a relative in Tasikmalaya, West Java, 'hundreds of Muslims' stormed the house and attacked Rohadi. He was nearly dead by the time police got him to hospital. Once in police custody, Rohadi was formally charged with blasphemy. He was tried and sentenced in May, according to The Voice of the Martyrs Indonesia. His brothers were among the prosecution witnesses.

He is now being held in Tasikmalaya prison where he continues to deny the charges against him. However, he says he will willingly stay in jail so he can continue to share his faith with his six cellmates. RI's partners in Indonesia are supporting Abraham's wife Kristowati and their 14-year-old daughter Rinda.

Raised as a Muslim, Rohadi became a Christian in 2000 after being healed of a stroke when a pastor prayed for him.

• Thank God for the faith and courage of Abraham Rohadi who is using his prison stay as an opportunity to witness to Christ.
• Pray for the safety of Rohadi's wife and daughter. Extremists have made it their mission to harass blasphemy defendants and their families.

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