Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) celebrated the release of 13 Christians affiliated with Mountain Gateway, an American faith-based non-profit organization, who were imprisoned in Nicaragua. The 13 Christians were part of a larger group of 135 political prisoners released by the Nicaraguan government. Their transportation to Guatemala was facilitated through cooperation between the U.S. government, the government of Guatemala, and the international community.
Mountain Gateway, founded by an Alabamian and based in Texas, is dedicated to recruiting, training, and sending Christian ministers to spread the Gospel worldwide. In Nicaragua, the organization has been active in providing discipleship, aiding those in need, offering disaster relief, and sharing the Christian faith.
Senator Britt expressed her relief and gratitude for the release, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom. “Religious freedom is an inalienable, God-given human right that must be protected at every turn,” said Britt. “I am tremendously grateful these Christian leaders are free, but they never should have been imprisoned in the first place. These Christians were in prison because of their faith. Those who dedicate their lives to preaching the Gospel should be celebrated, not persecuted.”
The release follows months of advocacy by Senator Britt and other U.S. lawmakers. In March, Britt, along with Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), urged the Biden Administration to leverage sanctions and diplomatic pressure to ensure the release of the imprisoned Christians. Senator Britt also led efforts with the entire Alabama delegation, sending a letter to Nicaragua’s Ambassador to the U.S., Francisco Obadiah Campbell Hooker, addressing the violation of religious freedoms.
Following the release, Senator Britt praised the efforts of the U.S. State Department. “Today’s news is an answered prayer. I appreciate the State Department’s work to free these political prisoners and facilitate their safe passage out of Nicaragua. I will continue to be an unwavering champion of religious liberty in the United States Senate,” she concluded.
Mountain Gateway remains dedicated to its mission, and this latest development underscores ongoing concerns about religious freedom in Nicaragua and other parts of the world.
