The 11 Christian pastors sent to prison on bogus charges in Nicaragua were released early Thursday morning after calls for justice by U.S. officials.
The pastors of Mountain Gateway, a non-profit ministry formed by Alabama native Jon Britton Hancock, had been behind bars since Dec. 12, 2023, when officials in Nicaragua charged them with money laundering and organized crime.
The pastors were convicted and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and over $80 million without proper paperwork and without a proper trial.
However, in a bipartisan effort in Washington, D.C., lawmakers and U.S. ambassador-at-large for religious freedom Rashad Hussain were successful in getting the pastors released.
"I’ve been told that the pastors that were being held in Nicaragua have been released," U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) stated on X. "These are answered prayers. I’ve spoken to the Hancock family and they are overjoyed that everyone will soon be home. More details on their release will be coming soon."
I’ve been told that the pastors that were being held in Nicaragua have been released. These are answered prayers. I’ve spoken to the Hancock family and they are overjoyed that everyone will soon be home. More details on their release will be coming soon.
— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) September 5, 2024
Hancock confirmed with 1819 News the prisoners had been released. He said he has been inundated with calls from lawmakers in Washington since the news broke.
The 11 were among 135 released on humanitarian grounds. According to the White House, two attorneys for Mountain Gateway, Catholic laypeople and students were also released.
“The United States welcomes the leadership and generosity of the Government of Guatemala for graciously agreeing to accept these Nicaraguan citizens,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “Once in Guatemala, these individuals will be offered the opportunity to apply for lawful ways to rebuild their lives in the United States or other countries through President Biden’s Safe Mobility Office initiative.”
Mountain Gateway operated for years in Nicaragua, spreading God’s word, training pastors, building churches and helping with relief efforts across the country until they began to hold mass evangelical events.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who is affiliated with the left-wing communist Sandinista National Liberation Front, began to target religious organizations and non-profits by shutting them down and kicking them out around 2018. Those efforts escalated in 2022 when Ortega started to crack down on the Catholic church. Until then, Ortega used religious organizations to communicate with the public, but things changed when he realized they could push back on his authoritarian ways.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
