A US-based human rights group has appealed to the Gambian Government to pardon a British missionary couple imprisoned after being found guilty of sedition.

International Christian Concern called on the Gambian Government to grant clemency to David and Fiona Fulton, who were sentenced in December to one year’s hard labour and fined £6,500 after admitting to publishing emails with seditious comments with intent to bring hatred or contempt against the president or the government.

The couple have been missionaries in The Gambia since 1999, spreading the Gospel and doing humanitarian work, and David Fulton is a chaplain for the Gambian army.

Following the verdict, the Fultons wrote a letter to the Gambian president apologising for any comments that may have caused offence. Their appeal for clemency has so far been ignored.

Westhoughton Pentecostal Church in Bolton was one of the churches financially supporting the Fultons in their work to spread Christianity in The Gambia.

The church’s pastor, Martin Speed, told ICC, "They are evangelical missionaries who have seen some people come to know the Lord. There is no political motive in what they do at all.”

ICC's Regional Manager for Africa, Jonathan Racho, stated, "We politely ask the officials of the government of The Gambia to release David and Fiona considering their relentless effort to help the poor and the marginalized section of the society in the county and considering the poor state of their health.

“We would like to ask his Excellency Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, the president of The Gambia, to accept the couple's plea for clemency."