The Syrian authorities have released a Kurdish pastor two weeks after he was arrested while visiting family in the city of Afrin, northern Syria, on Sunday 19 July.
Pastor Nihad Hassan, a Kurdish Christian leader originally from Syria whose remarkable journey to faith has inspired believers across the Middle East, was visiting Afrin from Beirut, Lebanon.
Pastor Nihad has faithfully served the Kurdish Evangelical Church in Beirut for many years, ministering to Kurdish Christians, including converts from Muslim backgrounds and displaced Syrian Kurds.
Pastor Nihad Hassan, a devoted pastor serving his community in Beirut, Lebanon, has been released after his imprisonment in northern Syria [Image credit: derakurdiyouth/Instagram]
“We thank God for answered prayer and for His faithful protection during this difficult time,” said a Barnabas Aid researcher and Middle East expert.
“Pastor Nihad’s release has brought great relief to his family, church, and many Christians who had been praying for him around the world,” she continued.
“His life remains a powerful testimony to God's faithfulness through suffering, and his ministry continues to bring the hope of Christ to those affected by conflict, displacement and loss.”
A call to follow Christ
In an interview with a UK-based evangelistic ministry in 2024, Pastor Nihad shared how he came to faith in Christ while a political prisoner in Syria.
Coming from a non-Christian background, he wrestled with questions of identity, belonging and faith from an early age. While involved with Kurdish groups and listening to Christian broadcasts, he began to reflect deeply on the message of forgiveness and humanity’s need for salvation.
After attempting to flee Syria, Nihad was imprisoned twice.
Read more: How long, O Lord? Syria’s endangered Christians left in mourning
During his second imprisonment, he spent six months behind bars, including 55 days in solitary confinement in a tiny cell measuring just 90 by 90 centimetres. Yet he later described this period as one of the most significant seasons of his life because he encountered God’s presence in a profound way.
“I regard them as the best days of my life,” he said, “because in this place I was comforted and knew the Lord.”
During his imprisonment, Nihad experienced God’s healing, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and a renewed calling to follow Christ. Despite opposition from fellow prisoners, who accused him of abandoning his former faith, he openly declared that Jesus was his Saviour.
Concerns raised about religious freedom
Following his release from prison, Nihad moved to Lebanon, where he studied theology before becoming a pastor.
For more than a decade, he has faithfully shepherded Kurdish believers and spoken internationally about the suffering of the Kurdish people, the needs of displaced communities, and the hope found in Christ.
The current government of Syria, headed by President Ahmed al Sharaa, came to power in December 2024 following a successful armed rebellion. Al Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani, was the leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organisation that was affiliated to Al Qaeda.
Concerns have been raised about the government’s willingness to protect religious freedoms and minority communities, including Christians.
Church leaders have also criticised the government for failing to prevent an Islamist suicide bombing on Sunday 22 June 2025 in Damascus, which claimed the lives of at least 25 worshippers and injured more than 60 during a church service.
How you can pray
Thank the Lord for Pastor Nihad’s safe release. Praise Him for answering the prayers of His people and for sustaining Pastor Nihad with His peace and strength. Pray that the Lord will continue to watch over Pastor Nihad and his family, granting them healing, wisdom and renewed strength after this experience. Ask God to protect them from any future threats and to surround them with His presence and peace. Pray also for the Kurdish Evangelical Church in Beirut, that the Lord will encourage and strengthen the congregation as they continue to serve faithfully.
