RELEASED FROM PRISON: Nicaraguan authorities release fraudulently convicted pastors, ministry leaders

GUATEMALA (5 September 2024) The U.S. State Department today announced the release of 135 prisoners in Nicaragua. Among them were the 11 pastors and ministry leaders affiliated with Puerta de la Montaña, the Nicaraguan branch of a U.S.-based Christian ministry. The 11 leaders, targeted for their work in ministry, received prison sentences ranging between 12 and 15 years and over 80 million dollars in fines per person after a sham trial.  

The 11 pastors and ministry leaders are now safe in Guatemala after being imprisoned for over six months. While in prison, they were barred from contacting their families or legal counsel.  

According to the State Department, the 11 “safely and voluntarily arrived in Guatemala” following their unjust detention. The State Department went on to say that “Nicaraguan authorities unjustly detained these individuals for exercising their fundamental freedoms of expression, of association and peaceful assembly, and of religion or belief.”  

“No one should be punished or prosecuted for their faith, and these 11 leaders should have never been unjustly imprisoned in the first place. ADF International is privileged to have advocated for them. We thank God for their release and will continue to pray for them as they recover from this ordeal,” said Kristina Hjelkrem, Legal Counsel for Latin America for ADF International and lead lawyer on the case.  

“The fact of the matter remains that the situation in Nicaragua is dire. People of faith have been openly and systematically persecuted and harassed by their government. ADF International will continue to advocate for religious freedom for all, and we look forward to continuing to seek justice for those wrongfully punished for their faith at the hands of the Nicaraguan regime.”  

ADF International advocated for the imprisoned pastors at the international level, petitioning on their behalf to the Inter-American Commission and Court on Human Rights.   

Sham Convictions   

Puerta de la Montaña is the Nicaraguan branch of a U.S.-based ministry whose stated purpose is to recruit, train, commission, and send out ordained Christian ministers to spread the Gospel. Operating legally within the country, Puerta de la Montaña served the citizens of Nicaragua through discipleship, church planting, feeding, and clothing to those in need, aiding during natural disasters, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to thousands of Nicaraguans through their mass evangelical campaign events.  

On December 2023, the Nicaraguan Police issued a press release announcing a money laundering investigation into the 11 religious leaders, in addition to three American citizens. The press release also announced that the police had arrested 11 Puerta de la Montaña representatives, including its pastors, other ministry leaders, and the legal representative of the ministry, and would investigate the U.S. citizens involved with the organization. That same month, without notification, Puerta de la Montaña’s registration as a ministry in Nicaragua was arbitrarily revoked, and the government seized all of the ministry’s property and assets.    

The ministry publicly denied these allegations, stating that they followed all legal requirements in the U.S. and Nicaragua that apply to non-profit and faith-based organizations.    

During the sham trial that followed the arrest, the government was unable to produce any evidence of the alleged illicit activity or alleged unlawful funds. The pastors and leaders maintained their innocence but remained in prison.    

Puerta de la Montaña’s religious leaders were imprisoned for over eight months, unable to contact their legal counsel or their families. The government allowed lawyers to be appointed but failed to provide them with any charging documents or files to adequately prepare a defence.     

A formal conviction was handed down on 19 March 2024, sentencing the 11 individuals to between 12 and 15 years in prison and to pay over 80 million dollars in fines per person.      

Members of the U.S. Senate, including Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), advocated for the freedom of the Christian prisoners, calling on the Biden Administration to “implement strong, targeted sanctions following the repeated & escalating violations of religious freedom in Nicaragua”.    

In addition, Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL), led a bipartisan, bicameral letter addressed to the Ambassador of Nicaragua that expressed concern over religious freedom violations and called for the release of the pastors. 58 Members of Congress signed the letter. In response to the situation, Congressman Aderholt said: “It was religious persecution that detained them, and it is blatant human rights violations that have kept them detained – these pastors must be released immediately.”   

In April 2024, in response to a petition from ADF International, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on Nicaragua to address the imprisonment of the Puerta de la Montaña leaders and ensure their human rights protections. In July 2024, the Inter-American Court on Human Rights granted provisional measures to the detained leaders, calling for their immediate release and restoration of contact with their families and legal counsel.  

Religious persecution prevalent in Nicaragua    

ADF International is also supporting the case of Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison for preaching on human rights violations perpetrated by the Nicaraguan government. Bishop Álvarez, expelled from Nicaragua for his religious convictions, is now in exile. His case continues before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, in the hopes of achieving some measure of justice for the bishop and setting a positive precedent for others facing similar trials in Nicaragua.