As of early 2026, several influential Christian leaders remain imprisoned globally, facing severe consequences for their faith and speaking out against oppressive regimes. This article highlights the cases of seven prominent figures, each enduring harsh conditions and significant legal challenges.
Pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin: A Voice Silenced in China
One of the most notable cases is that of Pastor Mingri “Ezra” Jin, founder of China’s influential house church movement. He was arrested in October 2025 during a significant crackdown by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Christianity, which involved the detention of 30 other pastors. His daughter revealed to Reuters that her father, who is 56 and suffers from diabetes, faces charges of “illegal use of information networks” after he used Zoom to conduct sermons during the pandemic. This strategy helped grow his congregation to approximately 5,000 members across nearly 50 cities. If convicted, he could serve up to seven years in prison. The call for his release has been echoed by politicians, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke out in October.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church Leaders Under Scrutiny
In Ukraine, the situation has become increasingly dire for members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Metropolitan Arseniy, abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra monastery, has been in detention since April 2024. His imprisonment stems from a sermon delivered in 2023 during which he criticized Ukrainian checkpoints for restricting access to worship. He was charged with “dissemination of information” regarding military locations. Reports indicate that his health is deteriorating while he endures inhumane treatment, including long transfers for court appearances. Despite these circumstances, Arseniy expressed his commitment to faith, stating, “Banning our church brings us no nearer to peace or security. It only sows division.”
Contrasting Arseniy’s situation, Russian Pentecostal pastor Nikolay Romanyuk received a four-year sentence in September 2025 for his outspoken views against war. His sermon titled “Not Our War” asserted that “killing is a sin,” directly opposing the rhetoric of Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, who advocated for military duty as a means of absolution. Romanyuk’s appeal was unsuccessful, and he awaits transfer to a labor camp.
Long-Term Detentions and Struggles in Eritrea and Vietnam
In Eritrea, Haile Naizghe, chairman of the Full Gospel Church, has spent over 21 years in detention without trial, making him one of the longest-serving religious prisoners of conscience globally. He is believed to be held in the Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Center, a maximum-security facility described as a dungeon by Christian rights group Open Doors. Eritrea ranks sixth on Open Doors’ World Watch List for dangers faced by Christians, with unrecognized denominations like Naizghe’s facing severe repercussions, including imprisonment and raids.
The plight of Christians extends to Vietnam, where missionary Ksor Ruk was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018 for “undermining the state’s unity policy.” This was his second imprisonment; he previously served six years after a prior arrest in 2007. Ruk’s alleged offenses include connections to an exiled separatist group and reviving “Dega Protestantism,” an evangelical movement prevalent among the Montagnard ethnic minorities.
Imprisoned Couples in Cuba
In Cuba, Loreto Hernández García and his wife, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, remain imprisoned in a maximum-security facility, separated from their children. García received a seven-year sentence for “public disorder” after participating in a peaceful protest advocating for human rights. Pérez was sentenced to eight years, facing additional charges of “attacking.” Reports from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom indicate that during their detention, both were subjected to attempts by prison guards to renounce their faith. García has been punished with solitary confinement and denied medical care for his diabetes and hypertension.
As these cases illustrate, the struggle for religious freedom remains fraught with danger for many Christian leaders worldwide. Their resilience in the face of adversity continues to draw international attention and calls for action from human rights advocates and political figures alike. As 2026 unfolds, the hope for their release and improved conditions remains tenuous, yet vital.
