Rep. Aderholt pressures Nicaragua: Imprisoned pastors ‘should be released immediately’

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September 3, 2024

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is continuing to put pressure on the regime in Nicaragua to release the pastors who were arrested earlier this year for preaching in the country.

In December 2023, eleven Nicaraguan pastors and other individuals associated with Mountain Gateway — a Christian organization based in Texas with missionary presence in North and Central America — were arrested and imprisoned by the Nicaraguan government without access to legal counsel, understanding of the allegations against them, or documentation of their alleged criminal charges. Prior to this, Mountain Gateway had a longstanding and welcomed presence in Nicaragua.

Aderholt discussed the issue recently on Fox News:

This past weekend I appeared on Fox News to talk about efforts to bring home the pastors who are being held by the Nicaraguan regime for simply preaching the gospel. They should be released immediately. pic.twitter.com/DTdMKkYC8B

— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) September 3, 2024

“This is something that really is unacceptable, that these Christians would be treated like this, that you know, for not doing any crime,” Aderholt said.

The dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, sentenced the Christian leaders to 12 to 15 years in prison and ordered them to pay $880 million.

“We think of this happening in biblical times,” Aderholt continued. “They were basically just sharing the gospel of the good news of Christ.”

Earlier this year, Aderholt spearheaded a letter addressed to the Ambassador of Nicaragua calling on their release and expressing concern over the government’s actions against religious freedom.

“As Members of the United States Congress, we have a vested interest in both the upholding of international religious freedom, and the safety and security of the American citizens we understand are currently being targeted for arrest and extradition by the Nicaraguan government,” the letter read.

Aderholt’s letter was signed by 58 Members of Congress — including the entirety of Alabama’s delegation to Washington — U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, and U.S. Reps. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham).

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11 am on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee