For six months, lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have called on President Joe Biden to pressure the Nicaraguan government into releasing from jail the 11 pastors connected to Mountain Gateway.
The non-profit, founded by Alabamian Britt Hancock, offered pastoral training and relief in Nicaragua for years until the arrests in December.
Hancock said the government had no issue until Mountain Gateway held a series of massive Christian events. Although authorities charged the pastors with organized crime and money laundering, they didn't offer official paperwork and convicted them without allowing them to communicate with the outside world. Even their attorneys were arrested.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) spoke from the Senate floor Monday, calling on Biden to do more to get the prisoners released.
SEE: U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom calls on release of Mountain Gateway pastors
"As Americans, we believe that every person on the planet is created by their creator with certain unalienable rights," said Britt. "Religious freedom is at the top of that list and for me, I believe it must be protected at every turn."
The pastors were sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay over $80 million in fines, which Britt said is about 6% of the country's GDP.
"Let's be very clear. These Christians are imprisoned today because of their faith," Britt continued. "Their very freedom has been taken away because they chose to preach the gospel and the regime doesn't seem to want to stop there."
Britt reminded Senators the Nicaraguan government has also threatened Hancock and his family with arrest if they return to the country. Britt said Biden must utilize all sanction powers.
"Any options that are in the toolbox should be used to force Nicaragua to remedy the situation," Britt continued. "Today, I want to emphasize that we cannot and we will not stop speaking up against this religious persecution in Nicaragua."
"We are calling on the Biden administration to do more now," she added. "This regime must stop targeting American citizens, and it needs to begin faithfully upholding religious freedom and compliance with international law and universal standards of human rights."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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