A Venezuelan bishop, Dzhilman Red Khurado Farfan, who spent more than five years in detention, has been released. After his release, he spoke about the torture he says he endured while in custody.

The bishop was released on August 14 from Rodeo III prison in Miranda state. He was among dozens of political prisoners released by the Venezuelan authorities, according to the inVictory portal.

His release was reported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a British organization that advocates for freedom of religion and the rights of believers around the world.

Dzhilman Red Khurado Farfan serves in the Archdiocese of the Holy Spirit of Venezuela, which is part of the independent Latin American Anglican Church. The church is based in Caracas and is not affiliated with either the Church of England or the Anglican Communion.

The bishop was arrested on July 30, 2021. Shortly beforehand, he had been summoned to law enforcement authorities under a false pretext.

The authorities accused him of terrorism, participation in a criminal organization, and conspiracy. Investigators claimed that the bishop’s activities and ministry were allegedly aimed at destabilizing the state.

The materials in his case remained sealed for almost 10 months. The trial lasted about two years, but the prosecution failed to present convincing evidence, after which the court suspended the proceedings.

After his release, the bishop reported mistreatment during his detention. According to Marcano, Khurado Farfan told investigators about the torture. In particular, he claims that during interrogations, his toenails were pulled out and electricity was applied to his chest, where he already had a burn wound.

In addition, in June 2026, while still in prison, the bishop reported serious health problems. These included intercostal neuritis, atypical pneumonia, and bleeding in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract.

The bishop’s release came amid continuing pressure on political prisoners and religious communities in Venezuela.

The lengthy rule of Nikolas Maduro has been accompanied by numerous allegations of human rights violations and pressure on religious organizations. In previous years, the authorities, among other measures, refused to renew residence documents for some foreign religious ministers.