UPDATES
Release Due to COVID-19 Becomes Permanent
Mahrokh Roksare Kanbari was released temporarily on March 2 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, having provided security of 30 million tomans ($2,000). On April 2, prison authorities informed Mahrokh that she was no longer required to return to prison. It is expected that...
Imran Ghafur Released!
The Lahore High Court has acquitted Imran Ghafur Masih, a Christian sentenced to life in prison under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. According to Imran's family they have moved into hiding following the acquittal due to potential threats from extremists. On 15 December,...
10-Year Sentence Reduced
On June 22, 2020, Yousef Nadarkhani's sentence was reduced to six years. Further areas for appeal are also being explored.
Bhakrom Released!
In a wonderful Christmas gift for his family, Bakhrom Kholmatov was freed early from prison on Wednesday, Dec. 18, three months earlier than his original release date. Praise God, and pray for the family as they reunite. (Source: Prisoner Alert)
Kandhamal Christians | India
(Source: World Watch Monitor) After spending nearly a decade in prison, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that the last five of the seven Kandhamal Christians, Bhaskar Sunamajhi, Munda Badmajhi, Durjo Sunamajhi, Sanatan Badamajhi and Budhadeb Nayak, be released on...
Believers Imprisoned In India On False Charges
Kandhamal Christians | India On August 23, 2008, as Hindus celebrated Janmashtami in the Kandhamal district of Odisha state, eastern India, their prominent leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was shot dead. Hindu fundamentalists quickly blamed Swami’s murder on...
Update – Imran Ghafur | Pakistan
The court handling the case of Pakistani Christian Imran Ghafur announced a new court hearing on Friday, May 17. Please pray that something will come from the hearing and that Imran will soon be released from prison. Imran has been in prison for nearly 10 years on...
Abraham Ben Moses Released!
We are delighted to report that Abraham Ben Moses, also known as Saifuddin Ibrahim, a well-known former Muslim and Christian apologist in Indonesia, has been released from prison. Abraham, who was active in Internet evangelism and debates with Muslim groups, was...
Pray for Siu Thai, Vietnam
On November 21, Siu Thai was beaten so harshly that he lost his memory. In the latest meeting with his familyhe was not able to recognise any of his relatives and could not walk by himself. Siu Thai is an ethnic Hmong Christian. He was arrested in April 2011 and was...
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Indonesia Released
Former Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, has been set free after serving nearly two years in prison for 'blasphemy', according to CBN News. He said he doesn't regret his imprisonment, saying, "If we could go back in time and someone asked which...
Vietnamese Prisoner Beaten
On November 21, Siu Thai was beaten so harshly that he lost his memory. In the latest meeting with his family he was not able to recognise any of his relatives and could not walk by himself. Siu Thai is an ethnic Hmong Christian. He was arrested in April 2011 and was...
ASIA BIBI FREED. PAKISTAN SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ACQUITTAL
from VOM partner, Release International Release International welcomes the decision by Pakistan Supreme Court to uphold acquittal of Asia Bibi. Calls for Pakistan to protect Asia and Christian minority, review cases of 200 other Christians behind bars and repeal...
Ps. Andrew Brunson Released!
Christians in Turkey and around the world are praising God for the release of Andrew Brunson from Turkish captivity. While the charges were not dropped, the court ruled on October 12th that he should be released for good behaviour and time served. He was allowed to...
New Prisoner – Pastor John Cao | China
On March 5, 2017, police arrested Cao San-Qiang (John Cao), a Chinese pastor known for his work among Myanmar’s poor. Authorities charged Pastor Cao with “organizing illegal crossings of national borders” and, one year later, sentenced him to seven years...
Nguyen Trung Ton | Vietnam
(Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, VOM Canada, Geneva Summit) Protestant pastor and freedom of religion activist Nguyen Trung Ton, was arrested on July 30, 2017 at his home in Thanh Hoa. On April 5, 2018 Pastor Ton, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for...
Prisoner Update: Pastor Bakhrom, Tajikistan
Write to the Kholmatov family with encouragement: Source: PrisonerAlert, Forum 18 In January 2017 Pastor Bakhrom's wife, Gulnora was admitted to hospital after travelling to visit her husband. She suddenly felt ill and was taken to hospital before she was able to...
Praise God! Ps. Andrew Brunson Moved To House Arrest
While Ps Andrew Brunson is still not allowed to leave Turkey, he HAS been moved out of prison to house arrest. We praise God for this and thank you for all your prayers for Andrew and family - via World Watch Monitor The US pastor Andrew Brunson is being moved from...
Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh | Iran
Christian Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh was arrested on 24 June 2016 when 30 intelligence police agents raided an engagement party at a house in the Andisheh township of Karaj, near Tehran. Everyone present was detained, including three visiting Azeri Christians from Baku,...
Lacheng Ren Released On Bail
Lacheng Ren Released On Bail VOM contacts heard Lacheng Ren was released on bail in early 2017. However, "he rarely communicates with anyone due to severe restraint and his hurt." Please continue to pray for him.
Pastor Yang Hua Released!
Imprisoned pastor Yang Hua has returned to his home in Guizhou province on June 19th after suffering mistreatment during his two-and-a-half-year jail term. Yang was first imprisoned on December 9th, 2015, after police raided Living Stone Church. He was charged with...