Prisoners List

Prisoners' list in PDF-Format (281 kb)

(Last update: April 2010)

Algeria

Under house arrest or released on condition

HABIBA KOUIDER
On March 29, 2008, authorities charged Habiba Kouider with "practicing a non-Muslim religion without a permit." The prosecutor asked that Kouider be sentenced to three years in prison. Kouider was travelling by bus when police questioned her and found her to be carrying Bibles and other religious material. The case is still pending. (Info March 2010)

Released these past months

HAMID RAMDANI
Sentenced on February 5, 2008, to 3 years in prison and a 500'000 DA (5000 Euros) fine for violating the religion and the person of the prophet of Islam. A court acquitted him of his charges on October 29, 2008.

RASHEED MOHAMED ESSAGHIR (1970)
Sentenced on February 5, 2008, to 5 years in prison and a 500'000 DA (5000 Euros) fine for violating the religion and the person of the prophet of Islam. Rasheed Mohamed Essaghir requested a retrial. A court acquitted him of his charges on October 29, 2008.

YOUSSEF OURAHMANE
Sentenced on February 5, 2008, to 3 years in prison and a 500'000 DA (5000 Euros) fine for violating the religion and the person of the prophet of Islam. Youssef Ourahmane was released on October 20, 2008 due to international pressure. A court acquitted him of his charges on October 29, 2008.

Bangladesh

Families of Martyrs

SWAPAN MONDOL (1974)
Swapan Mondol was killed on Sept. 12, 2009 in Suhrawardy Park, near Dhaka University. He was a convert from Hinduism and supervisor of youth mission for Free Christian Church of Bangladesh. He leaves his wife Lucky Mondol.

China

Prisoners

ALIMJAN YIMIT (1973)
Police arrested Alimjan Yimit on January 12, 2008. On August 6, 2009, he was charged with 15 years of prison for "providing state secrets to overseas organizations". He granted interviews to media outside China. Alimjan, once a Muslim, converted to Christianity more than 10 years ago and became a house church leader in the growing Uyghur church.

CUI JAXING
Cui Jaxing, a church leader, is accused of "illegally occupying farm land". He wanted to protest against the fact that military police and civilians had attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009 (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 25, he was sentenced to 4 1/2 years prison.

DONG DAOLAI, Pastor
Arrested with other South China Church leaders during October 2002. He has been sentenced to 10 years.

GAO QIN
Gao Qin, a female church leader, is accused of "gathering people to disturb the public order". She organized, with four other church leaders, a prayer rally with 1000 people after the military police and others attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009, (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 30, she was sentenced to 3 years prison.

GAO XINYOU
Underground Catholic lay leader arrested on March 21, 2005, in Wenzhou. He is probably being pressured to join the official Church.

GAO YUETANG (1962)
Christian arrested in October 1997 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for "disturbing social safety".

GONG BANGKUN
Leader of the embattled South China house church movement arrested and sentenced to death in December 2001. His death sentence has been commuted to 15 years imprisonment.

HAO YUETANG (1956)
Christian arrested in April 1996 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

HU YING
A leader in the South China Church arrested in 2000 and given a life sentence in prison.

HU YONG
Leader of the embattled South China house church movement, sentenced in December 2002 to a life sentence on charges of belonging to a "cult".

HUO JUNLONG Paul (1963)
Underground Catholic priest and vicar general of the Baoding diocese, he was arrested on Aug. 6, 2004 in Hebei province. Still in prison. (Info May 2009.)

JIANG YANLI
Catholic priest, from Qing Yuan County, Hebei. Still detained. (Info May 2009)

LI HUISHENG
Underground Catholic priest, Shangyi parish, arrested together with about 20 parishioners on Aug. 1, 2006. (Info Sept. 2006)

LI PING (1980)
Female Christian arrested in April 1996, and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for "Illegal evangelistic activities".

LI SHUANGPING
Li Shuangping, a church leader, is accused of "gathering people to disturb the public order". He organized, with four other church leaders, a prayer rally with 1000 people after the military police and others attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009 (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi province). On November 30, he was sentenced to 3 years prison.

LI SHUJUN
Young underground Catholic priest of the Baoding diocese arrested on December 27, 2006, in Hebei Province. The reason for his arrest is unknown.

LIU BANGCHENG (1952)
Christian arrested on April 28, 2001 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for alleged swindle.

LIU HONGGENG
Catholic priest in Baoding, Hebei. Arrested in 2003. Still in prison (info May 2009)

LIU SHUNTING (1974)
Christian arrested in October 1998 and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for being a "Political criminal".

LIU WEI (1961)
Christian arrested in June 1998 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for "Anti-revolutionary" activities.

LU GENJUN (1962)
Underground Catholic priest of Baoding diocese, Hebei province. Sentenced on April 13, 2001 to three years re-education camp, he was released in the spring 2004. He was arrested again on February 17, 2006. Still in prison. (Info may 2009)

MA WUYONG (1974)
Underground Catholic priest in the Baoding diocese, Hebei province, he was arrested with nine others on Aug. 6, 2004. Still detained in Qing Yuan County detention centre. (Info May 2009)

PANG GUANGZHAO
Underground Catholic priest of the Baoding diocese (Hebei) arrested on July 1, 2003, in Hebei Province. He is still being detained. (Info May 2009)

PAUL MA
Priest arrested in March 2009.

SHI WEIHAN
On March 19, 2008, this bookstore owner in Beijing was re-arrested for publishing Bibles and Christian literature. He has been sentenced to three years, backdated to commence from 28 November 2007 (when he was first detained), and fined $ 21,975. His wife Zhang Jing has taken over responsibility for the bookstore. At school, their 2 daughters of 9 and 13 are socially isolated by their classmates.

SU ZHEMIN James (1932)
Underground Catholic Bishop of Baoding, Hebei province, detained since October 1997. At the end of 2003, he was able to talk briefly with some family members in hospital, but his present whereabouts are unknown. (Info May 2009)

SUN MINGHUA (1965)
Female member of the South China Church arrested in October 2002 and given a 13-year sentence.

TANG MENGYU (1977)
Female South China Church Leader arrested in June 2004 and given a six- year sentence.

WANG CHANGMAO (1947)
Christian arrested in September 2000 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

WANG JINLING
Underground Catholic priest of the Zhangjiakou Diocese arrested on April 1, 2005, possibly for refusing to join the official Church.

WANG QIANJUN
Catholic priest in Baoding diocese, Hebei Province. Arrested again in 2005. Still in prison (Info May 2009)

WANG XIAOGUANG
Wang Xiaoguang, a church leader, is accused of "illegally occupying farm land". He wanted to protest against the fact that military police and civilians had attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009, (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 25, he was sentenced to 3 years prison. He is married to Yang Rongli.

WANG XIONGWEI
Catholic priest in Qing Yuan County, Hebei province. Still detained. (Info May 2009)

XIAO YANGLI (1972)
A former secretary in the South China Church, she was arrested in May 2001 and sentenced in December 2001 by a court in Jingmen to 10 years in prison. She is detained in the women's prison in Wuhan, where she has to do tailoring work for 16 hours a day. She cannot have a Bible and according to "China Aid", she looks physically and mentally exhausted.

XU JINSHUI (1936)
Christian arrested in April 1999 and given a life sentence for taking part in an "Anti-revolutionary organization".

YANG CAIZHEN
Yang Caizhen, a female church leader, (wife of Pastor Yang Xuan) is accused of "gathering people to disturb the public order". She organized, with four other church leaders, a prayer rally with 1000 people after the military police and others attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009, (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 30, she was sentenced to 3 years prison.

YANG HONGZHEN
Yang Hongzhen, a female church leader, is accused of "gathering people to disturb the public order". She organized, with four other church leaders, a prayer rally with 1000 people after the military police and others attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009, (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shankxi Province). On November 30, she was sentenced to 3 years prison.

YANG RONGLI
Yang Rongli, a female church leader, is accused of "illegally occupying farm land" and "disturbing public transport order by gathering the masses". She wanted to protest against the fact that military police and civilians had attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009 (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 25, she was sentenced to 7 years prison. She is married to Pastor Wang Xiaoguang.

YANG XUAN
Yang Xuan, a church leader, is accused of "illegally occupying farm land". He wanted to protest against the fact that military police and civilians had attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009, (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 25, he was sentenced to 3 1/2 years prison.

YI CHUANFU (1955)
Pastor arrested in October 2002 and sentenced to 10 years. He has been severely beaten.

ZANG HUAMEI
Zang Huamei, a church leader, is accused of "disturbing public transport order by gathering the masses". He wanted to protest against the fact that military police and civilians had attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009, (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 25, he was sentenced to 4 years prison.

ZHANG RONGLIANG
One of China’s best-known and most respected house church leaders, Zhang Rongliang is the senior leader of the Fengcheng house churches network. He was arrested without charges on December 1, 2004 in Henan province. On June 29, 2006 he was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison and has already seen 40 to 50 conversions in prison. Previously, Zhang had already spent a total of 12 years in prison for his religious activities. He is married to Chen Hongxian and has two sons who both had to go underground.

ZHAO ERHUAI (1956)
Female Christian arrested on June 29, 2001 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for "being related to a cult".

ZHAO FALIANG (1959)
Christian arrested in October 1998 and sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for being a "Political criminal".

ZHAO GUOAI
Zhao Guoai, a female church leader, is accused of "gathering people to disturb the public order". She organized, with four other church leaders, a prayer rally with 1000 people after the military police and others attacked the church members and building on September 13, 2009, (Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province). On November 30, she was sentenced to 3 years prison.

ZHOU BENYOU (1967)
Christian arrested in October 1994 and given a life sentence.

ZHU AIQING (1962)
Female Christian arrested on June 9, 1998 for "illegal evangelistic activities". She was originally given a twenty-year sentence. It was later reduced to 17 years.

ZHU DEHUA (1954)
Christian arrested on May 26, 1998 and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for "Anti-revolutionary" activities.

Prisoners with unclear status

AN JIANZHAO Paul (1974)
Underground Catholic priest in the Baoding diocese, Hebei province. He was arrested in Aug. 6, 2004, and sentenced to re-education through forced labour.

CHEN JIAXI
On January 4, 2007, Pastor Chen was arrested for distributing free Bibles and other Christian literature to house-church members. He has been charged with ‘illegal business management’ and could face a 3-year sentence. He might be released.

GAO ZHISHENG
Beijing-based human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has been under house arrest since November 2007, was taken into custody on or shortly after Jan. 19, 2009. He was held incommunicado at an unknown location. In the light of the harsh treatment he had received earlier, he was considered to be at high risk of torture and other ill-treatment. He was released on April 6, 2010 for a short period. His wife Geng He, their daughter Geng Ge (16 years) and their son Gao Tiangu (5 years) left China in March 2009 for the USA. Since April 20, 2010, his whereabouts are unknown.

HUA HUIQI
On September 17, 2009, this prominent house church leader was seized by the public security bureau and the state bureau security agents from Fengtai district in Beijing. His whereabouts are unknown.

JIA ZHIGUO Julius (1935)
Underground Catholic Bishop of Zhending diocese, Hebei province. Arrested 13 times since January 2004. He was last arrested shortly before Easter 2009. His whereabouts are unknown. (Info May 2009)

SHI ENXIANG Cosmas (1921)
Bishop of the underground Catholic Yixian Diocese, Hebei. Arrested in April 2001. His whereabouts are unknown. (Info May 2009)

Under house arrest or released on condition

FAN ZHONGLIANG Joseph (1918)
Underground bishop of Shanghai. He has already spent 30 years in prison. Under strict surveillance. (Info Sept. 2007)

LIN XIANGAO (Pastor Samuel LAMB, 1924)
One of the most famous House Church leaders in South China. Under strict surveillance by the police. Around 3000 Christians meet in his house every week.

TIAN HONGXIA
Tian Hongxia worked in the bookshop of Shi Weihan in Beijing. She was arrested in November 2007 and sentenced to 2 1/2 years of house arrest. Tian gave birth to a baby in September 2008.

WU QINJING Joseph (1969)
Bishop Joseph Wu Qinjing has been under house arrest since November 2007.

Died in captivity

YAO LIANG (1923)
Bishop of the underground Catholic Church, Xiwanzi diocese, Hebei province. Yao Ling died in prison on Dec 30.2009. He spent 30 years of his life in prison.

Released these past months

OSMAN IMIN
Osman Imin was released on November 18, 2009, after serving two years in a labour camp for alleged 'illegal proselytising' and 'leaking state secrets'. He is a Uyghur house church leader. Married to Nurgul, they have two daughters of 8 and 6.

SHUANG SHUYING (1930)
On February 26, 2007, house-church leader Hui Huiqi’s 77-year-old mother, Shuang Shuying, was sentenced to two years in prison by Beijing Chongwen District People’s Court. She was released from prison on February 8, 2009, and went immediately to see her dying husband, Hua Zaichen, 91, in the hospital. She sent an open letter revealing how she was tortured in prison and thanking those around the world for their prayers and support.



 

Colombia

Prisoners with unclear status

GUILLERMO CORREA ORTIZ (1932)
Catholic priest kidnapped on August 4, 2000, in Gigante, some 320 km (200 miles) southwest of Bogota. The FARC guerrilla is demanding $500,000 for his safe return. Correa Ortiz is in poor health.

WILLIAM REYES (1968)
Rev. William Reyes of Maicao, La Guajira, pastor of Light and Truth Inter-American Church, disappeared on September 25, 2008 in the department of Cesar. His wife, Idia Miranda de Reyes and William (20), Luz Nelly (18) and Estefania (10) still have no news of what has happened to him. The family has had to move to another city for security reasons.

Went into hiding

WILMER RIBON (1977)
A series of death threats forced Wilmer Ribón to abandon his home and ministry in June 2009 and flee to Bogota with his family. For three years, he pastored Rios de Agua Viva (Rivers of Living Water), a church in a paramilitary-controlled neighbourhood in the Medellín area with many displaced persons and a high violent crime rate.

Families of Martyrs

JOSE RODRIGUEZand EMILSE MARIA DEL CARMEN
On April 24, 2009, José Rodriguez and his wife Emilse Maria Del Carmen, members of the Assembly of God church, were killed in the province of Arauca. Their children, Ambar Gricet (4) and Juan José (2) are staying with the grandparents. Their daughter Eidy (12) stays in El Hogar, an Open Doors children's refugee home.






 

MANUEL CAMACHO
Manuel Camacho was the pastor of a church in Choapal, a village north-east of Guaviare. He was killed on September 21, 2009. His wife Gloria and their 2 sons rely on the Bible in this difficult time.

Egypt

Prisoners

HANI NAZEER (1981)
Hani Nazeer, a high school social worker from Qena was arrested by Egypt’s State Security Investigations and sent to Burj Al-Arab prison. This Coptic Christian blogger is detained since Oct. 3, 2008, without charge and being pressured to convert to Islam in exchange for his freedom.

HISHAM SAMIR IBRAHIM (1976)
Detained in the Mazraa Tora prison since May 7, 2002 because of his conversion to Christianity in 1996.

IBRAHIM FAWZY ABDO
Egyptian authorities sent Ibrahim to El Wadi El Gadid Detention Camp on Nov. 22, 2008. He was wrongly accused of killing a Muslim. On May 3, 2009, he was released on bail, but the Minya State Security Services issued a new detention order and arrested him again on May 20, 2009, for "security reasons." He is still being detained.

METAOS WAHBA
Father Metaos Wahba is from the Santa-Maria church at Gizeh. In October 2008, he was accused of forging documents. He celebrated the wedding of a Christian man with a female Christian convert from Islam. He has been given 5 years of prison.

NASEEM ABDEL-MALAK (1961)
Coptic Christian arrested in late 1997. On November 13, 1997 he was given a life sentence with hard labour. A medical doctor, director of the El- Khanka Hospital, he is accused of having illegally released a mentally ill Islamic fundamentalist who killed 9 German tourists in Cairo in September 1997. It is uncertain whether Naseem is really guilty and his sentence is exceptionally harsh. The family has appealed directly to President H. Mubarak for clemency. Naseem is married with two children.

REFAAT FAWZY ABDO
Egyptian authorities sent Refaat to El Wadi El Gadid Detention Camp on Nov. 22, 2008. He was wrongly accused of killing a Muslim. On May 3, 2009, he was released on bail, but the Minya State Security Services issued a new detention order and arrested him again on May 20, 2009, for "security reasons." He is still being detained.

SHAIBOUB W. ARSAL (1964)
Arrested on September 22, 1998 and wrongly accused of the murders of two Coptic Christians in El-Kosheh. Two alleged "eye-witnesses" repudiated their written testimony made under torture. On June 5, 2000, he was sentenced to 38 years hard labour, the maximum sentence under Egyptian law for unpremeditated murder. He is married with 3 children.

Prisoners with unclear status

MALAK and NAGLAA GAWARGIOS FAHMY
Christian couple detained since mid-February 2003 in an effort to force Naglaa to give up her faith and return to Islam. She was baptised in 1996. They have two children, Maria and George.

Went into hiding

RAHEAL HENEN MUSSA (1987)
Police arrested her on April 13, 2009, for marrying Sarwat George Ryiad in a customary marriage, an unregistered form of matrimony in Egypt made without witnesses. Mussa escaped on April 21, 2009. She and her husband fled Cairo and went into hiding. If the two are caught, advocates fear, they could be forcibly separated, arrested and beaten, with Mussa being returned to her family.

Eritrea

The regime of Communist President Isayas Afewerki banned all Independent Protestant churches in May 2002, though some Orthodox people have also had problems. It is now believed that over 2000 Christians are being detained in 12 different locations across the country. On Sept. 23, 2005, Eritrea became the first nation ever sanctioned by the U.S. State Dept. for failure to address severe violations of religious freedom.

Prisoners

ABRAHAM MEGARI
Pastor of the Rhema Church arrested in April 2008 and detained.

ABRAHAM YOSIEF
Pastor and leader of a Coptic Revival group arrested in 2007 and detained.

AKLILU MEHARIZGI
Elder of the Hallelujah Church arrested in April 2008 and detained.

ALEM GENZEBU
Pastor of the Kale-Hiwot Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

BERHANE ARAYA
Elder of the Full Gospel Church arrested in 2006 and detained.

BERHANE GOITOM
Evangelist of the Rhema Church arrested in April 2008 and detained.

DANIEL HEILEMICHEL
Pastor of the Charismatic Word of Power Church, he was taken from his home on Feb. 23, 2006. He was placed under detention at Asmara’s Police Station No. 2. "His wife is in great distress", a local Christian said, noting that the couple had been married just a month prior to Daniel Heilemichel’s arrest.

DAWIT MESGHENA
A member of the Rhema Church in Adi-Segdo, he was arrested on July 5, 2004 from his home without explanation by the military police. He was taken to the Truck "B" military camp near Asmara.

DEMOZE AFWERKI
Lutheran Christian arrested on March 18, 2005.

ELSA GHERMAY (1974)
A member of the Full Gospel Church, she was arrested on July 5, 2004 as she was sharing her faith along a road in Asmara. She was taken to the Mai Serwa military prison.

FESTUME (Rev. Dr.)
Pastor arrested in 2006 and detained. Leader of the Medhane Alem, a Sunday school movement part of the Orthodox Church.

FESTUME GEREZGHIER
Evangelist of the Philadelphia Church arrested in 2006 and detained.

FREWINI TESFAY
Female preacher of the Rhema Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

FREZGI HAILE
Elder of the Philadelphia Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

FUTSUM GEBRENIGUS, Dr.
A pastor arrested in 2005 and detained.

FUTSUM KULUBERHAN, Rev. Dr.
A cleric from Medhane Alem, a Sunday school movement part of the Orthodox Church, he was arrested on March 13, 2005.

GEBREAB (JORJO)
Pastor of the Full Gospel Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

GEBREMEDHIN GEORGIS
A cleric from Medhane Alem, a Sunday school movement part of the Orthodox Church, he was arrested on March 13, 2005.

GEBREMICHEL HAGOS
Elder of the Kale-Hiwot Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

GEBREMICHEL TEKLU
Pastor of the Full Gospel Church in Assab arrested in 2006 and detained.

GEBRETENSAI HADEGU
Gebretensai Hadegu, a monk of the orthodox community Maria in Asmara has been arrested in June 2009.

GOITOM HAILE
Pastor of the Philadelphia Church arrested in 2006 and detained.

HABTEAB OQBAMICHAEL
Pastor of the Rhema Church, he was arrested on March 18, 2004 with his wife and five children. He is held at the Adi Abeto prison, outside Asmara.

HABTOM TESFAMICHEL (1950)
Pastor Habtom Tesfamichel was taken into custody on January 23, 2007. He had been pastoring the Full Gospel Church’s Asmara congregation since its previous pastor, Kidane Weldou, was jailed in March 2005. Tesfamichel is now incarcerated in the capital’s Wongel Mermera prison, along with nearly two dozen other Christian pastors and priests known to remain jailed in the notorious investigation centre.

HABTOM TEWOLDE
Pastor of the Full Gospel Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

HAGOS ABRAHA
A pastor in the Full Gospel Church arrested in 2005 and imprisoned.

HAILE NAIZGI, Rev.
A leading pastor in the Full Gospel Church, he was arrested on May 23, 2004. Imprisoned without charges at Wongel Mermera, a government investigation centre in Asmara, he has been refused all contact with his family since August 2004 and the actual charges against him have not been released. He is married with four children.

HANIBAL
Pastor of the «Church of the Living God» arrested in 2006 and detained.

ISAAC MEHARI
A pastor from the Kale Hiwot Church, arrested in 2005 and detained.

ISAIAS GHIDE
Pastor of the «Church of the Living God» arrested in August 2008 and detained.

IYOB BERHE
Pastor from the Kale Hiwot Church, he was arrested in 2006. Early in 2007, he was hospitalized with severe injuries from harsh military punishments requiring emergency treatment. He has since been transferred back to the police station, where he remains under arrest for refusing to sign papers recanting his evangelical beliefs and activities.

IYOB GENZEBU
Pastor of the «Church of the Living God» arrested in 2006 and detained.

KELETE
A lay leader from the Rhema Church, he was arrested at midnight on March 17, 2004 with his wife, six children and father-in-law, while they were having family devotions at home. They are held at the Adi Abeto prison, outside Asmara.

KIDANE GEBREMESKE
A pastor in the Full Gospel Church arrested in 2005 and imprisoned.

KIDANE ZEREMARIAM
Evangelist of the Rhema Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

KIFLU GEBREMESKE Dr.
A leading pastor in the Full Gospel Church, he was arrested on May 23, 2004. Imprisoned without charges at Wongel Mermera, a government investigation centre in Asmara, he has been refused all contact with his family since late August.

LEARE MEDHIU, Rev.
This pastor was arrested in 2005 and is still detained.

LEULE GEBREAB (1972)
Pastor Leule Gebreab of Asmara’s Apostolic Church failed to return home to his family on August 12, 2007. His wife is greatly distressed about his disappearance. They have two children.

MEAZA ARAY (1970)
A member of the Full Gospel Church, she was arrested on July 5, 2004 for the second time as she was sharing her faith along a road in Asmara. She was taken to the Mai Serwa military prison.

MEBRAHTU TESFAY
Pastor of the Full Gospel Church in Mendefera arrested in November 2008 and detained.

MENGESTEAB BELAY
Pastor of the Hallelujah Church arrested in 2008 and detained.

MESFIN KIFLEMARIAM
Pastor arrested in 2007 and detained.

MICHEL YEKONO
Pastor of the Philadelphia Church arrested in 2006 and detained.

MUSIE EZAZE
Pastor of the Kale-Hiwot Church arrested in 2008 and detained.

OQBAMICHEL TEKLKEHAYMANOT
Pastor of the Kale-Hiwot Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

PETROS GEBRESELASI
Evangelist of the Kale-Hiwot Church arrested in April 2008 and detained.

SAMRAWIT MEHARI
Women's leader of the Philadelphia Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

SAMUEL OGBAZGHI
A pastor arrested in 2005 and detained.

SEMERE ZAID
Pastor and Professor at the Asmara University arrested in 2005 and detained.

SIGEDE ABRAHA, Dr
Pastor of the Kale-Hiwot Church arrested in 2006 and detained.

TEAME WELDEGEBRIEL
Evangelist imprisoned since 2006 for his Christian activities, he is receiving especially harsh treatment because of his ministry to inmates. Prison authorities consider him dangerous because of his boldness in sharing his faith. He has been proclaiming Christ to other prisoners and many have converted to Christianity. His family is not allowed to visit him.

TEKLEAB MENGISTEAB, Rev. Dr.
A cleric from Medhane Alem, a Sunday school movement part of the Orthodox Church, he was arrested on March 13, 2005.

TESAFA ARAYA
A member of the Rhema Church in Adi-Segdo, he was arrested on July 5, 2004 from his home without explanation by the military police. He was taken to the Truck "B" military camp near Asmara.

TESFAGABER
Pastor of the «Church of the Living God» arrested in 2006 and detained.

TESFAMARIAM KELATI
Elder of the Trinity Church arrested in 2006 and detained.

TESFATSION HAGOS
A pastor of the Rhema Evangelical Church, he was arrested on May 26, 2004. Imprisoned without charges at Wongel Mermera, a government investigation centre in Asmara, he has been refused all contact with his family since August

TEWELDE GEBREAB
A pastor in the Full Gospel Church arrested in 2005 and imprisoned.

TEWELDE HABTEZION
A pastor arrested in 2005 and detained.

TEWELDE MEDHANE Rev.
Arrested in 2006 and detained. One of the leaders of the Medhane Alem, a Sunday school movement part of the Orthodox Church.

YETBAREKHE Rev.
Arrested in 2006 and detained. One of the leaders of the Medhane Alem, a Sunday school movement part of the Orthodox Church.

YOHANNES TESFAMICHAEL
A pastor from the New Covenant Church, arrested in 2005 and detained.

ZECHARIAS ABRAHAM
Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Asmara, he was arrested at the end of a worship service on Sunday April 29, 2007. He had taken over the chairmanship of the Eritrean Evangelical Alliance since the arrest of his predecessor, Haile Naizgi, in 2004.

ZERIT HAGOS
Pastor of the Halleluiah Church arrested in 2007 and detained.

Prisoners with unclear status

KIDANE WELDOU (1950)
A leading Full Gospel Church pastor, Kidane Weldou disappeared off the streets of Asmara on March 18, 2005, presumably detained by Eritrean security forces. Neither his family nor his church have been able to learn anything about his whereabouts or the charges under which he is being held. He is married and has 4 daughters.




 

Under house arrest or released on condition

FANUEL MIHRETEAB
A pastor in the Full Gospel Church arrested in 2005 and imprisoned. He was released on bail in January 2007.

Died in captivity

MEHARI GEBRENEGUSE ASGEDOM (1967)
Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom died on January 16, 2009 at the Mitire Military Confinement centre from torture and complication resulting from diabetes.

MOGOS HAGOS KIFLOM
Mogos Hagos Kiflom, a member of the Rhema Church, died in January 2009 in the Mitire Military Prison. This as the result of torture he endured for refusing to recant his faith.

Ethiopia

Released these past months

BASHIR MUSA AHMED (1970)
Bashir Musa Ahmed was arrested in May 2009 in Jijiga, capital of Somali Region Zone Five in eastern Ethiopia for "malicious" distribution of the bible. He is a Muslim background believer. The prosecutors charged him for terrorism. He was acquitted of all charges in February 2010 and released.

India

Prisoners

GYAN SINGH
Police on April 15, 2009 arrested him on charges of forcible conversion. Unable to find evidence of allurement or forced conversion, police charged Singh with "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion" and "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings".

ISWAR ALBANNAVAR
On January 9, 2009 the police took Pastor Albannavar to the police station. He was arrested during a prayer meeting in the Throne of Grace Ministry church. He remains in Belgaum central jail (Karnataka).

KAILASH MASHIH and SHARDA PRASAD MUTHEL
On Feb. 19, 2009, police arrested pastors Kailash Mashih and Sharda Prasad Muthel in Anuppur in connection with the complaint about "the book" (the Bible) and took them to the Chachai police station. One of the pastors (undisclosed) was put in Shadol district jail, and the other was freed on bail.

PAULOSE
On Feb. 25, 2009, police for unknown reasons again arrested Rev. Paulose in connection with the complaint about the sale of a book. An Anuppur district court judge refused to grant him bail.

RAJU KOLKAR
On January 9, 2009 the police took Raju Kolkar to the police station while he was attending a prayer meeting. He remains in Belgaum central jail (Karnataka).

TULSI RAM
Pastor Tulsi Ram, an evangelist with the Indian Evangelical Team in Makhya Pradesh state, was beaten by Hindu extremists outside his home on March 11, 2008. Police officially arrested him on alleged charges of hurting religious sentiments.

YASHWANT PAUL
He was arrested on January 21, 2008, in the district of Uttar Pradesh on charges of fraud in a case originally registered against him in 2004. Ramesh Chand accused Rev. Paul and his wife Monica Paul of offering him 20'000 rupees (500$) and a job to convert to Christianity. Both have vehemently denied the charges, according to the report. Rev. Paul was charged under the Indian Penal Code with cheating and criminal breach of trust and was locked up in the district jail of Ghaziabab; a magistrate rejected his initial bail plea.

Prisoners with unclear status

CHANDRA, Pastor
Native missionary Pastor Chandra was arrested in December 2003 by Orissa police on charges of baptizing five new believers. Fourteen other missionaries there also face persecution and imprisonment under the Orissa government's anti- conversion legislation.

Went into hiding

BECHU AZAH CHHEDI
Uttar Pradesh Hindu extremists chased Pastor Bechu Azah Chhedi into hiding on Sept. 19, 2009 in Lucknow. He is accused of forceful conversions.

Iran

Prisoners

ABDOL REZA ALI HAGNEJAD
Abdol Reza Ali Hagnejad was arrested on Jan. 11, 2010 in Shiraz. He may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam.

BEHROUZ SADEGH-KHANDJANI
This house church leader had been in police custody in Tehran since December 10, 2006. In the meantime he was released. On Jan. 11, 2010 he was arrested a second time in Shiraz. He faces charges of apostasy, for leaving Islam.

DAVOOT NEJATSABET
Davoot Nejatsabet was arrested on Jan. 11, 2010 in Shiraz. He may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam.

HAMID SHAFIEE
Hamid Shafiee and his wife Reyhaneh Aghajary were arrested in Isfahan on Feb. 28, 2010. They are house church leaders and Muslim background believers.

HAMIK KHACHIKIAN
Hamik Khachikian, an Armenian Christian, was arrested on January 21, 2009 in Tehran. He is married with a 17-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter.

IMAN FARZAD
Iman Farzad was arrested on Jan. 11, 2010 in Shiraz. He may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam.

MEHDI FURUTAN
Mehdi Furutan was arrested on Jan. 11, 2010 in Shiraz. He may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam.

MOBINA JALILI
Mobina Jalili, Maryam's sister, was arrested on Dec. 28, 2009 in Isfahan. Her family has no contact with her and does not know where she is detained. She may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam.

PARVIZ KHALDJ
Parviz Khaldj was arrested on Jan. 11, 2010 in Shiraz. He may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam.

REYHANEH AGHAJARY
Reyhaneh Aghajary and her husband Hamid Shafiee were arrested in Isfahan on Feb. 28, 2010. They are house church leaders and Muslim background believers.

ROXANA FUROUYI
Roxana Furouyi was arrested on Jan. 11, 2010 in Shiraz. She may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam.

SHAHNAM BEHJATOLLAH (1975)
Shahnam Behjatollah was arrested together with six other Christians on July 31, 2009 in Amameh, a village in the north of Tehran. He is married with a 6-years-old daughter.

YOUSEF NADARKHANI
Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was arrested on Oct. 13, 2009 in Rasht. He may face charges of apostasy for leaving Islam. He is married with two young sons.

Prisoners with unclear status

IMAN RASHIDI
He was arrested on August 14, 2008. His whereabouts and condition are unknown.

Under house arrest or released on condition

FARZAN MATIN
Farzan Matin was arrested on Dec. 24, 2009. She was then detained in the Evin prison in Tehran. She was released on March 17, 2010.

JAMAL GHALISHORANI (1960)
Jamal Ghalishorani was arrested by police on January 21, 2009 in Tehran. He is a Muslim background believer and has been a Christian for 30 years. In Iran "apostasy" is potentially punishable by death. He is married to Nadereh Jamali, their daughter is a teenager. He was released on February 9, 2009 with an open case.

MARYAM JALILI
Maryam Jalili was arrested on Dec. 24, 2009, and detained in the Evin prison in Tehran. She was released on March 17, 2010.

MARYAM ROSTAMPOUR (1982)
Accused of "acting against state security" and "taking part in illegal gatherings", she has been held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran since March 2009. She was released on Nov. 19, 2009, after a large international advocacy campaign.

MARZIEH AMIRIZADEH ESMAEILABAD (1979)
Accused of "acting against state security" and "taking part in illegal gatherings", she has been held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran since March 2009. She was released on Nov. 19, 2009, after a large international advocacy campaign.

MITRA ZAHMATI
Mitra Zahmati was arrested on Dec. 24, 2009. She was detained in the Evin prison in Tehran. She was released on March 17. 2010.

MOHSEN NAMVAR (1965)
In a continued wave of arrests of Christians, this Tehran house church leader who had previously been held and tortured for religious activity, is being detained. Eight policemen arrested Mohsen Namvar from his Tehran home on May 31, 2008, refusing to provide any reason for his arrest. He was released on bail on July 26, 2008.

NADEREH JAMALI
Nadereh Jamali was arrested by police on January 21, 2009 in Tehran. She is a Muslim background believer and has been a Christian for 30 years. In Iran "apostasy" is potentially punishable by death. She is married to Jamal Ghalishorani, their daughter is a teenager. She was released in February with an open case.

WILSON ISSAVI (1945)
The Rev. Wilson Issavi, pastor of the Evangelical Church of Kermanshah in Isfahan, was arrested on Feb. 2, 2010. His wife Medline Nazanin has seen signs of torture on him. He was released on bail on March 30, 2010.

Laos

Prisoners

SOUA YANG CHANH
Hmong ethnic minority Christian detained in Udomxay province prison. Accused of taking part in a "subversive meeting" in Thailand. Sentenced to 12 years in 2000-2001.

THAO OUN
Thao Oun, a church leader in Liansai village, Savannakhet Province, was jailed for embracing Christianity and threatened to be expelled unless he renounces his faith and killed if his arrest is made public.

THONG CHAN
Pastor from Udomxai, he had been a Chao Muang (District Governor). After his conversion he was arrested in 1999 and convicted of preaching the Gospel, thus being considered a traitor to the nation. He was sentenced to 15 years labour camp. He is married to Saengkham, who survives by selling clothes at the market. After her husband's arrest, she took over the leadership of the church meeting in their home. At this time, there were 30 Christians but now the number of believers has increased to over 3000, meeting in 23 different places.

Prisoners with unclear status

BOON CHANH KHUNTHAWONG (1940)
Khmu ethnic minority Christian detained in Udomxai province prison. He and his wife, Saeng Khum, were arrested on June 9, 1999. He was sentenced to 15 years for treason.

Mauritania

Families of Martyrs

CHRISTOPHER LEGGETT
American citizen, Christopher Leggett was killed on June 23, 2009 by a terrorist group called Al-Qaeeda-in-Maghreb. He taught English and computer science in Nouakchott. His wife Jacky and their 4 children, aged between 8 and 15, want to forgive the murderers.

Mexico

On December 22, 1997, paramilitary forces killed 45 inhabitants in Acteal, a pro-zapatist village near Chenalho. The police did not intervene, but the authorities falsely accused numerous innocent Indians, including Tzotzil evangelical Christians. Sentenced to 35 years in prison, they are now detained in a maximum security prison 6 to 7 hours travel away from home.  In August and October 2009, some prisoners were released, but as far as we know, 23 are still in prison, with little chance of having their case revised.

Prisoners

AGUSTIN PEREZ GOMEZ
Married to María Santiz Pérez. Father of 4 children.

AGUSTIN VAZQUEZ MENDEZ
Married to Marcela Perez Sentiz. Father of 4 children: Irma, Alejandro, Erminia and Martha.

ANTONIO PEREZ HERNANDEZ
Married to Maria Gómez Ruiz. Father of 5 children: Juan, Zoila, Irene, Reinaldo and German.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ PEREZ
Married to Consuelo Ruiz Pérez. Father of 6 children: Felipe, Alejandro, Veronica, Alfredo, Florinda and Catarina.

ELIAS LUNA RUIZ
No family details known.

FELIPE LUNA PEREZ
Married to Antonia Jimenez Ruiz. Father of 3 daughters: Luisa, Martha and Claudia.

JAVIER LUNA PEREZ
Married to Loida Pérez Pérez. Father of one boy: Efraín.

JOSE PEREZ PEREZ
Married to Estela Luna Vázquez. Father of 5 children: Verónica, Guadalupe, Audilia, Jeremías and José Alberto.

JUAN LUNA PEREZ
Married to Rosa Ruíz Pérez. Father of 2 children: Celia and Juan.

JUAN SANTIZ VAZQUEZ
Married to Marta Lunas Pérez. Father of 3 children: Micaela, Rosalinda and Marco Antonio.

MANUEL PEREZ PEREZ
Married to Antonia Pérez Pérez. Father of 3 boys: René, Eleuterio and Ermelindo.

MANUEL SANTIZ PEREZ
Married to Marcela Pérez Pérez. They have no children.

MARCOS ARIAS PEREZ
Married to Eva Pérez Guzman. Father of 4 children.

MARIANO GOMEZ RUIZ
Married to María Díaz Pérez. Father of 5 children.

MARIANO LUNA PEREZ
Married to Caterina Gutiérrez Pérez. Father of 2 daughters: Angelina and Adriana.

MARIANO PEREZ JIMENEZ
Married to Yolanda Pérez Jimenez. They have a daughter named Rosa.

MIGUEL LOPEZ GOMEZ
Married to Caterina Pérez Pérez. Father of 3 children.

MOISES PEREZ PEREZ (1980)
Married to Maria Soledad Perez Lopez. They have one son.

NICOLAS HERNANDEZ PEREZ
Married to Marcela Gómez Ruiz. Father of 2 children: Victor Manuel and Griselda.

PABLO HERNANDEZ PEREZ
Married to Maria Pérez Ruiz. They have a daughter, Erica.

PEDRO MENDEZ VASQUEZ
No family details known.

RAFAEL LUNA VAZQUES
Married to Antonia Jimenez Pérez. Father of 5 children: Silvestre, Erma, María, Ermelia and Bersain.

VICTORIO ARIAS PEREZ (1952)
No family details known.

Prisoners with unclear status

ELIAS PEREZ PEREZ
No family details known.

JOSE PEREZ GUZMAN
Married to Maximiliana Pérez Pérez. They have 2 children: María Magdalena and José, who is very ill. His chest is sinking, which limits his ability to breathe.

Released these past months

AGUSTIN GOMEZ PEREZ
Married to Juana Velazco Gómez and father of 5 children, Augustin Gomez Perez was released in August 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

ARMANDO GUZMAN LUNA
Married to Juana Pérez Pérez. Father of 3 daughters: Albertina, Martha and Lorena. Armando Guzman Luna was released in August 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

EMILIO GOMEZ LUNA
Married to Aracelia Díaz Mendez. Father of 3 children. Emilio Gomez Luna was released in November 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

FLORENTINO PEREZ JIMENEZ
Florentino Perez Jimenez was released in August 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

HILARIO GUZMAN LUNA
Married to Caterina Pérez López. Father of 3 children: David, Samuel and Julia. Hilario Guzman Luna was released in November 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

JUAN HERNANDEZ PEREZ
Married to Roselia Gómez. Father of 3 children: Eduardo, Felicia and Juan Gabriel. Juan Hernandez Perez was released in November 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

MIGUEL LUNA PEREZ
Married to Rosa Ruíz Pérez. Father of 7 children: Isaías, Floriano, David, Martha, Efraín, Hugo and Uriel. Miguel Luna Perez was released in August 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

PABLO PEREZ PEREZ
Married to Sara Gutiérrez Pérez. Father of 3 children: Susana, Gilas and Zaqueo. Pablo Perez Perez was released in November 2009. He had been detained since February 1998, falsely accused of the Acteal massacre.

Nepal

Families of Martyrs

DEEPA PATRICK (1990)
Deepa Patrick died in an anti-Christian bombing while praying at the Assumption Church, in Kathmandu valley’s Lalitpur district, on May 23, 2009. She was visiting Nepal with her husband Vikash Patrick. They had been married for four months and lived in India.

Nigeria

Prisoners with unclear status

PETER IMASUEN
Peter Imasuen, the Anglican archbishop of Benin diocese in Edo state was kidnapped on Jan. 24, 2010. The kidnappers are reportedly demanding 750'000$ for his release.

Released these past months

SANI KABILI
Released on January 15, 2009. He was sentenced to three years in prison for offence to Islam on October 18, 2007.

North Korea

Tens of thousands of Christians are locked up in forced labour camps, where they suffer incredibly. These are the only names we were able to obtain.

Prisoners

AHN SEUNG-WON
In 1995, the North Korean security police abducted Pastor Ahn Seung-won while he was in China. He had been sent by Yonggi Cho's Pentecostal Church in Seoul (South Korea) to preach the Gospel in the North. He is still detained in Pyongyang under charges of spying.

SON JONG NAM (1959)
In April 2001, this Christian missionary was arrested in China, where hehad fled, and handed over to North Korea. He was sentenced to hard labour and badly tortured. Released thanks to international pressure, he was deported to Chongin in May 2004. He was again arrested in January 2006 and sentenced to public execution. He is imprisoned in the basement of the National Security Agency in Pyongyang.

Pakistan

Prisoners

ANWAR KENNETH (1959)
Arrested on September 25, 2001, at the Gawal Mandi police station in Lahore, Anwar Kenneth was accused of making derogatory remarks about Mohammed. On July 18, 2002, he was sentenced to death by a court in Lahore, where he is imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat jail. Anwar is seemingly mentally deranged and the law forbids the conviction of such a person.

ARSHAD MASIH (1972)
Arshad Masih was arrested on Dec. 28, 2008 and tortured in Sialkot prison. He had his backbone broken and needs medical care. His father is a preacher in Gujranwala.

ASHIQ KINGRI MASIH (1977)
A young Catholic man who had converted to Islam in order to marry a Muslim girl has been jailed since May 3, 2000, charged with blasphemy after he tried to return to his Christian faith as the marriage didn't take place. On June 29, 2002, the Faisalabad District and Sessions Court sentenced him to be hanged on charges of "slandering the prophet Mohammed." Since then, Masih has been in solitary confinement.

HECTOR ALEEM (1958)
He was arrested on Jan. 23, 2009 and remains in Adiyala Jail in Rawalpindi. As responsible for a small NGO he often defends the rights of Christians in Islamabad. Members of Sunni Tehreek, a political and Islamic group, threaten to kill him if he is released.

IMRAN MASIH
Imran Masih was sentenced to a life term in prison and fined 1'000$ on Jan. 11, 2010. He was charged for "desecrating the Quran and thereby outraging religious feelings". He had been arrested in July 2009. Imran Masih will appeal to a higher court.

MUNIR MASIH
Munir Masih was sentenced to 25 years prison together with his wife Ruqqiya Bibi on March 3, 2010. They were arrested for "touching Islam's sacred scripture without ritually washing". He was arrested on Dec. 1, 2008. The case will be appealed to the Lahore High Court.

QAMAR DAVID
Qamar David was sentenced to 25 years of prison and a fine of 1'170$ on Feb. 25, 2010, in Karachi. He was charged for "injuring religious feelings of any community". He appealed to the Sindh High Court.

RUQQIYA BIBI
Ruqqiya Bibi was sentenced to 25 years of prison together with her husband Munir Masih, on March 3, 2010. They were arrested for "touching Islam's sacred scripture without ritually washing". She was arrested on Dec. 1, 2008. The case will be appealed to the Lahore High Court.

Under house arrest or released on condition

NAUMAN MASIH (1984)
Nauman Masih and his brother Naveed were arrested in Sept. 2009 in Gojra. They had given shelter to 300 people after an Islamic mob on Aug. 1. He was released on bail in October 2009.

NAVEED MASIH
Naveed Masih and his brother Nauman were arrested in Sept. 2009 in Gojra. They had given shelter to 300 people after an Islamic mob on Aug. 1. He was granted bail by the Lahore High Court on Dec. 23, 2009.

Released these past months

FRANCIS JOSEPH
Francis Joseph, director of the CLAAS (Centre for legal aid assistance and settlement) in Lahore was jailed on July 12, 2009. He was falsely accused of converting a young woman to Islam and marrying her. He was released in autumn 2009.

SHABAZ MASIH (1978)
Arrested in 2001 near Faisalabad, this mentally ill Christian was sentenced to life imprisonment after having been accused of desecrating the Quran. The Lahore High Court overturned this sentence in January 2007 and Masih was released on bail. The judge also noted that no one had seen Masih commit the alleged crime. But his life may still be in danger from Muslim fanatics angered by the verdict.

Went into hiding

MARTHA BIBI MASIH
Arrested on January 23, 2007 and accused of blasphemy, Martha was released on bail in May 2007 against a payment of 100'000 rupees (about 1200$). The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance says it will continue to press for Bibi's acquittal through the courts. But APMA is concerned for her safety as, in the meantime, extremist elements have called for Bibi to be hanged publicly. Her husband and five children are in hiding far from their home, in the district of Punjab.



 

Families of Martyrs

ARSHED MASIH (1972)
Arshed Masih and his wife Martha were servants of a rich Muslim family in Rawalpindi. Their employer pressured them to convert to Islam. As they refused, Asher was killed on March 23, 2010. He leaves Martha with three children aged from 7 to 12 years.

IMRAN (1980) and IRFAN MASIH (1984)
Imran Masih and his brother Irfan died in Gujranwala on Dec. 12, 2009. Their employer forced them to drink something heavily poisoned. They leave their father Yousaf Masih and two brothers, Akash and Javed.

PATRAS MASIH
Patras Masih was killed by his Muslim friends because he refused to convert to Islam in Punjab province on Dec. 3, 2009. He leaves his father Gulzar

RASHEED MASIH (1974)
Rasheed Masih was killed on March 9, 2010, in Khanewal district in southern Punjab Province. He refused to convert to Islam. He leaves his brother Asi Masih.

SHAKEELA BIBI (1964)
Shakeela Bibi was killed during the riots against the Christian community in Sangu-Wali, village near Aroop ton in Gujranwala district on March 2009. She leaves her husband Manzoor Masih Bibi and their children.

SHAZIA (1997)
Shazia died of torture and malnourishment on Jan. 22, 2010 in Lahore. She was the servant of a Muslim family. She leaves her mother Nasreen Bibi, one brother and many sisters.

Saudi Arabia

Prisoners with unclear status

YEMANE GEBRIEL (1968)
On January 30, 2009, Yemane Gebriel had to go into hiding. He is from Eritrea and had been living in Saudi Arabia for 25 years. He is the pastor of a house church for expatriates in Riyadh. His wife and the 8 children stay in Riyadh.

Released these past months

HAMOUD BIN SALEH
Hamoud Bin Saleh was arrested on January 13 and detained until March 25, 2009 in Riyadh. He had already been in prison for 10 months, the last time in November 2008.

Somalia

Prisoners

OSMAN NOUR HASSAN (1970)
Osman Nour Hassan, a Muslim background believer (MBB) was arrested in Somaliland and is detained in Mandere prison. He distributed Christian literature.

Families of Martyrs

ABDI RAHAM and HUSSEIN MUSA (1998)
Hussein (12) and his brother Abdi Rahaman (11) were killed by al Shabaab, an Islamic group. Their father, Musa Mohammed Yusuf, is the leader of an underground church in Yonday, Somalia. He fled to Kenya with his wife Batula Ali Arbow and their son Abdulahi (7).

AHMED MATAN
Al Shabaab armed group killed 41-year-old Ahmed Matan in Bulahawa on August 18, 2009. He had been a member of an underground Christian fellowship since 2001. He leaves his wife Fatuma and three small children.

MOHAMMED AHMED ALI (1960)
Underground house church leader, he was murdered by Al Shabaab armed group on January 1, 2010. His widow, Amina Ibrahim Hassan and her 2-year-old son Abdi Asis Mohammed Ahmed fled to Kenya.

MOHAMMED SHEIKH ABDIRAMAN
Mohammed Sheikh Abdiraman was the leader of a Christian underground church. He was killed by al Shabaab Islamists on July 20, 2009 in Mahadday Weyne, 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the Somali capital of Mogadishu. He is survived by two children, aged 15 and 10. His wife died three years ago due to illness.

Tanzania

Under house arrest or released on condition

CECIL SIMBAULANGA and ELEUTERY KOBELO
Anglican evangelists Cecil Simbaulanga and Eleutery Kobelo were released on bail after 7 days arrest. Christian and Muslim groups organized the inter-faith debate that was planned for a neutral venue in October 2009 in the Kariakoo area of Dar-es-Salaam. They were arrested on Oct. 20, together with 7 other Christians and charged of unlawful assembly. They are charged with a fine of 365$ each.

Turkey

Prisoners with unclear status

HAKAN TASTAN and TURAN TOPAL
In an effort to prolong the trial of two Turkish converts to Christianity accused of «denigrating Islam and Turkishness», on March 13, 2008, three police officers were summoned to testify before the Silivri Criminal Court in north-western Turkey as witnesses for the prosecution which has yet to provide any evidence for its case. Turan Topal and Hakan Tastan, charged under Turkey’s controversial Article 301 restricting freedom of speech, have been on trial for 3 1/2 years.

Uzbekistan

Prisoners

DMITRY SHESTAKOV (1969)
Pastor Shestakov was arrested at his church in Andijan in January 2007, seven months after he had been accused of committing high treason and sentenced to four years in a prison colony for alleged "illegal" religious activities. In August 2007, the Court of Appeal decided to "leave the verdict without changes in spite of the fact that it was proven that the criminal case and testimonial evidence were illegal and faked." He was refused amnesty in December 2007. Shestakov has been put to work in the Navoi prison camp. He and his wife Marina have three daughters, the oldest is 16 years old.

Vietnam

Prisoners

LÊ CÔNG DINH
Human rights lawyer and Christian, Le Cong Dinh was arrested at his office in Ho Chi Minh City on June 13, 2009 by the Public Security police. He has been charged with "conducting propaganda" against the state, under Article 88 of the Penal Code. If convicted, he faces a three- to 20-year prison sentence.

NGO THI DUNG
Catholic lady arrested on 21.09.2008. She is accused of destruction of property and public disorder.

NGUYEN BINH THANH
Catholic arrested in Feb. 2007 and sentenced in Hûé on the same day as Nguyen Van Ly to 5 years in prison plus 2 years under house arrest.

NGUYEN PHONG
Catholic arrested in Feb. 2007 and sentenced in Hûé on the same day as Nguyen Van Ly to 6 years in prison plus 3 years under house arrest.

NGUYEN THI NHI
Catholic lady arrested on 21.09.2008. She is accused of destruction of property and public disorder.

NGUYEN VAN DAI (1969)
After a trial of only four hours on May 11, 2007, a Vietnamese court convicted the Christian attorney of "propagandizing against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" and sentenced Dai to five years in prison plus four years of house arrest. Recently, his sentence was reduced by one year due to international pressure. He received a visit from four pastors on January 31, 2008.

Under house arrest or released on condition

HOANG THI ANH DAO
Catholic lady arrested in Feb. 2007 and sentenced in Hûé to 2 years in prison with deferment plus 3 years of "trial time".

LÊ THI CONG NHAN (1979)
After a trial of only four hours on May 11, 2007, a Vietnamese court convicted the Christian attorney of "propagandizing against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" and sentenced her to four years in prison plus three years of house arrest. She was released on March 6, 2010 and remains under house arrest for three years.

NGUYEN VAN LY Thaddeus (1947)
Catholic priest already arrested several times and detained for approx. 15 years in total. Released in Feb. 2005, he was arrested again in Feb. 2007 andsentenced in March 2007 to 8 years' prison plus 5 years under house arrest for "opposing the Revolution". He is being detained in the Ba Sao detention camp, inthe Nam Ha Province, in the North of the country. Father Nguyen Van Ly suffereda suspected stroke on November 14, 2009 and is paralyzed on one side. He was released on March 15, 2010 for a period of 12 months in order to get medical care.