All Prisoners

  • Anooshavan Avedian

    Anooshavan Avedian

    Held 184 days in Iran

    Pastor Anooshavan Avedian was arrested by Iranian security agents on Aug. 21, 2020, at the pastor's home, where he and some Christian friends had gathered for prayer and worship. The group was meeting in his home because Iranian officials had closed their church several years earlier. The government agents confiscated Bibles and cellphones before taking Pastor Avedian and two other Christians to Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. The pastor's two friends were released two days later, but Pastor Avedian was held for 26 days and harshly interrogated. more info

  • Gebremedhin Gebregergis

    Gebremedhin Gebregergis

    Held 7,060 days in Eritrea

    Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregergis is a highly respected clergyman who served in various positions in the Eritrean Orthodox Church Patriarchate. Throughout his ministry, he was known for his humility and devotion. As the Head of Sunday School in the Orthodox Church, Rev. Gebremedhin significantly impacted the Eritrean Orthodox youth. He taught the New Testament in the local language, a significant departure from the church's traditional ancient language understood exclusively by the clergy. This opened the door to the gospel, and thousands of young people came to Christ. more info

  • Fitsum-Berhan Gebrenegus

    Fitsum-Berhan Gebrenegus

    Held 7,061 days in Eritrea

    Dr. Fitsum-Berhan Gebrenegus, an Eritrean pastor and psychiatrist, was arrested on 18 November 2004 due to his involvement in the Mekanehiwet Medhane Alem Church, a renewal movement in the Eritrean Orthodox Church. Before his arrest, he served as the most senior doctor at St Mary Psychiatric Hospital in Asmara and was the only psychiatrist in Eritrea. Dr. Fitsum helped organize the Medhane Alem movement. He is believed to be held with other Christian leaders at the Wenjel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation interrogation center, a notorious maximum-security prison in Asmara. He remains incarcerated and cannot communicate with the outside world. Dr. Fitsum is married and has one child. His wife went home to be with the Lord while he remained imprisoned. more info

  • Tekleab Mengisteab

    Tekleab Mengisteab

    Held 7,060 days in Eritrea

    In 2004, three courageous Mekanehiwet Medhane Alem Orthodox Church Fathers were arrested after leading a transformative movement within the Orthodox Church. By teaching the word of God to the youth in the local language, they opened the doors to a deeper understanding of faith, challenging the Church's traditional use of an ancient language that only the clergy could comprehend. Through their inspiring efforts, they became a gateway for many to find Christ and their legacy continues to inspire generations. more info

  • Li Juncai

    Li Juncai

    Held 1,854 days in China

    Pastor Li Juncai of the Yuanyang County Central House Church in Xinxiang, Henan Province is currently serving a prison sentence of five and a half years after protesting the government’s attempts to remove the cross atop his church building in 2019. more info

  • Zhang Wen Shi

    Zhang Wen Shi

    Held 3,427 days in North Korea

    Zhang Wen Shi, also known by his Korean name and title as Deacon Jang, is an ethnically Korean Chinese citizen who lived in Changbai, China, a town on the border between China and North Korea. He worked alongside Korean-Chinese pastor Pastor Han Chung-Ryeol, ministering to the North Koreans who crossed the border into Changbai. more info

  • Wang Yi

    Wang Yi

    Held 1,927 days in China

    Pastor Wang Yi is the influential leader of Early Rain Covenant Church in the city of Chengdu, Sichuan province - one of the best-known house churches in China. He and his wife, Jiang Rong, were detained in December 2018 and charged with "inciting subversion of state power" and "illegal business operations." If convicted, Pastor Wang could face up to 15 years in prison. more info

  • Meron Gebreselasie

    Meron Gebreselasie

    Held 7,230 days in Eritrea

    Pastor Meron Gebreselasie was arrested on June 3, 2004. Meron, also known as Million, was the pastor of Massawa Rhema Evangelical Church in Massawa, a Red Sea port city. He was also an anesthetist at Massawa Hospital. more info

  • Zhang Shaojie

    Zhang Shaojie

    Held 3,776 days in China

    Pastor Zhang Shaojie of Nanle County Christian Church in Henan Province, is currently serving a 12-year prison term for “gathering a crowd to disrupt the public order” and a fabricated fraud charge. more info

  • Mussie Ezaz

    Mussie Ezaz

    Held 6,039 days in Eritrea

    Mussie Ezaz was arrested in September 2007 when Eritrean authorities came after him for his work as a youth minister with the Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church. He worked as an evangelist for 14 years and served with Youth for Christ for a number of years before developing a ministry to youth at the Kale Hiwot Church, and other believers described him as a kind, generous and gifted leader. more info

  • Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel

    Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel

    Held 7,241 days in Eritrea

    Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel, a leading figure of Full Gospel Church of Eritrea, founder and senior pastor of Southwest Full Gospel Church and member of the executive committee to the Full Gospel Church of Eritrea, was arrested on May 23, 2004. He was taken from his home in Asmara Gejeret, at approximately 5 a.m. Dr. Gebremeskel was a mathematics lecturer, department and faculty head at the University of Asmara until 1999, when he became a full-time pastor at the Southwest Full Gospel Church. He has a Ph.D. in mathematics from The University of Chicago. His wife and four children have not been able to visit him. more info

  • Kidane Weldou

    Kidane Weldou

    Held 6,941 days in Eritrea

    Pastor Kidane Weldou disappeared and is presumably detained by Eritrean security forces. His vehicle was found abandoned in downtown Asmara. He is a senior pastor of the Full Gospel Church and has been a leader in the church for many years. Weldou is married and has four daughters. For many days his family has been unable to learn his whereabouts. Other Full Gospel pastors still being held include Haile Nayzgi. Pastor Weldou is also a member of the executive committee of Gideons International in Eritrea. more info

  • Haile Nayzgi

    Haile Nayzgi

    Held 7,241 days in Eritrea

    During the early morning hours of May 23, 2004, Haile Nayzgi was arrested and taken to Police Station #1 in Asmara. He was the leader of Eritrea’s Full Gospel Church, which is comprised of 120 to 150 house meeting groups. The church groups were closed by government decree at a meeting with a government official on May 15, 2002. At that time the church groups were given an application form for government registration. The Full Gospel Church filled out the form and returned it to the appropriate offices, but no reply was ever received. more info