Campaigners have urged the Nicaraguan government to release 11 pastors and ministry leaders who have been convicted of sham charges of money laundering.
The men, part of Puerta de la Montaña, a plant of US-based Christian ministry Mountain Gateway Order, had successfully rallied hundreds of thousands of people for evangelistic events in Nicaragua.
But although the government was unable to produce any evidence of the alleged illicit activity or where the alleged unlawful funds that were ‘laundered’ originated, the men have been imprisoned for over two months and barred from contacting legal representation or family.
They have received prison sentences ranging between 12 and 15 years and over $80 million in fines per person.
