Church leaders in the Holy Land have welcomed the release of a Palestinian Christian woman after her third time in an Israeli prison.
Layan Nasir, who is a member of St Peter’s Anglican Church in Birzeit in the West Bank had been in jail since September 2025 after being found guilty on “unclear” grounds in a court case described by Anglican leaders as lacking “any legal or moral justification”.
The 25-year-old had also been incarcerated for eight months without charge in 2024. She was first jailed in 2021 for allegedly being involved with a banned student organisation while at Birzeit University – something she and her family have always denied. Representatives for Nasir insist the student body she was part of was a harmless stationary club.
Her release was welcomed by Anglican church leaders across the region, including the Archbishop of Jerusalem Most Rev Hosam Naoum who described it as “joyful news” in a post on Facebook.
Rev Canon Donald Binder who is serving as Canon Pastor of St George's Cathedral, Jerusalem said he was rejoicing with “the Nasir family and Layan herself, giving thanks that this chapter of their years-long nightmare is over, while praying that they and other families like them can now be finally left to lead their lives in peace”.
As she returned home, Layan Nasir was greeted by the Dean of St George’s College Very Rev Richard Sewell who said she had described conditions in Damon Prison as being like “a cemetery for the living”.
Over the years, Nasir has also been supported by worldwide Anglican leaders including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.