The wife of a pastor in Lisbon, North Dakota, recently alleged that her religious freedom had been violated after she was fined for praying too loudly on the city’s sidewalks. Martha Nagbe, who immigrated to the United States along with her entire family from Liberia with hopes of pursuing a better life, said her dreams had been shattered when Lisbon’s law enforcement warned her to stop praying loudly around her neighbourhood. Her husband Juwle Nagbe is a pastor of the local United Methodist Church.

Despite making an appearance in court twice and being fined $150 for making unnecessary noise, Nagbe has refused to stop praying loudly, declaring she trusts that God wants her to pray as loudly as she does on the streets of Lisbon.

“In the United States it's one nation under God,” said Nagbe, who walks around with her Bible, while singing in the streets. “I can't stop … I'm trusting God.”

Lisbon Police Chief Jeanette Persons warned Nagbe of being ticketed if she does not restrain her praying loudly around the neighbourhood.

“I mean, we all need prayers and great she's out there praying for all of us, but it's just the volume of her voice,” said the police chief.

Persons clarified however that the decision to warn Nagbe had nothing to do with her religion, race or freedom of speech. She said that neighbours in the predominantly white town had filed complaints against Nagbe, alleging her screaming had woken them up several times at odd hours.

“It's not that she just walks by, but she will stand out there for a lengthy period of time,” explained Persons.

Despite her neighbours alleging otherwise, Nagbe has said that she prays only during daytime. Her husband, the pastor, believes that his wife is being targeted with malicious intent.

“For them to antagonize her, to make her look like a bad person, sometimes makes me angry,” said Juwle Nagbe. “Somebody should give her the respect that she deserves.”

Photo Credits: KSHB TV, Kansas City