Bishop released after more than five years in prison

A human rights activist has confirmed to CSW that Bishop Dr. Jylman Red Jurado Farfán was released from Rodeo III Prison in Miranda State, Venezuela, on 14 August after over five years in prison.

Bishop Jurado Farfán was arrested on 30 July 2021 after being summoned under false pretenses. He was subsequently charged with terrorism, criminal association and conspiracy, due to the authorities’ accusation that his social ministry work was an attempt to destabilise the State.

The judicial process against Bishop Jurado Farfán was marred by serious irregularities, including the withholding of his case file for nearly ten months, and the suspension of his trial after almost two years of hearings without any conclusive evidence being presented. In June 2026 he reported to CSW that he was suffering from serious health concerns including atypical pneumonia, intercostal neuritis, and both upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Jesus Marcano, Advocacy Coordinator for the Venezuelan human rights organisation Foro Penal, confirmed to CSW that Bishop Jurado Farfán was among 81 prisoners released on 14 August.

Mr Marcano said: ‘The government does not provide names or anything; we [verify who was released] through the list of political prisoners because we locate their families, and we make sure to get testimonies from some of them.’He added that Bishop Jurado Farfán has since elaborated on torture he was subjected to whilst in detention, including ‘how they pulled out his toenails and how they opened a burn wound on his chest with electricity.’

Speaking to CSW, Bishop Jurado Farfán said: ‘My beloved brothers and sisters in the unity of the body of Christ, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, my fraternal hugs; and I bless God for the feeling and the desire that God placed in your hearts so that this liberation would be possible, where the Lord broke the chains of oppression, of fear, of torture, and gave us [physical] freedom. We know that freedom is a precious gift that comes from the presence of the Lord, which is why I have learned from within, during five years and fifteen days, that every morning He showed His mercy, and everything that has breath praises the God of justice.’

CSW’s Director of Advocacy and Americas Team Leader Anna Lee Stangl said: ‘CSW welcomes the release of Bishop Jurado Farfán. He should never have been imprisoned in the first place. We strongly condemn the torture he experienced and the failure of those in authority to ensure he was provided adequate treatment for his medical conditions. Now that he is free, we wish him a full recovery from this ordeal. The Venezuelan government must cease its harassment of religious leaders and others whose only crime is peacefully supporting their communities as they feel called to do.’

Notes to Editors:

1. Bishop Jurado Farfán is a bishop of the independent Latin American Anglican Church serving in the Archdiocese of Venezuela of the Holy Spirit in Caracas. The church is not affiliated with the Church of England or the Global Anglican Communion.
2. The government claims that 131 prisoners were released on 14 August.