A Nepalese church leader gets a verdict from the appeals court.

Nepal (MNN)–The persecution of Christians seems to remain unchallenged in Nepal. That may be due,in part, because it’s the world’s only Hindu kingdom.

In the case of evangelist Manja Tamang, it resulted in his false imprisonment two years ago. Tamang faces 20 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit.

After fighting the conviction for two years in court, Gospel For Asia’s KP Yohannan says the Supreme Court verdict came down yesterday. “They decided that they would uphold the judgment that was made previously that they would not free him. This was quite shocking and sad news because of the tremendous amount of evidence was presented that Manja was innocent.”

Yohannan says now, their only recourse will be to appeal to Nepal’s king. More importantly, it sends a message to those in ministry. “Surely this is very serious and disappointing news for Christian workers at large, knowing that something like this is so obvious that he’s framed, that justice was not done at this time.”

However, even though he’s behind bars, Tamang is reportedly ministering and evangelizing. Yohannan says he has been holding Bible studies daily in prison for 25 people.

Continue to pray for Tamang’s wife and children as they cope with the absence of husband and father. Tamang says he has full confidence in God’s sovereign plan and that God will fulfill His plan, even if it means he remain in prison.