All Prisoners
Gebremedhin Gebregergis
Held 6,952 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
Held 6,953 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
Held 6,952 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
Zhang Wen Shi
Held 3,318 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
Held 1,819 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
Held 7,121 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
John Cao
Held 2,463 days in China
On March 5, 2017, police arrested Cao Sanqiang (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 in prison. more info
Zhang Shaojie
Held 3,668 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
Held 5,930 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
Held 7,132 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
Held 6,833 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
Held 7,132 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