The following statement was released today by the Office of Government Relations.

On April 6, Layan Nasir, a 23-year-old Anglican Palestinian woman, was taken from her home in the early morning hours at gunpoint by Israeli forces; since that time, she has been detained, without charge and without a timeline for charges, trial, or release. 

The Episcopal Church has been in touch with her priest and with her family, and along with other Anglicans around the communion, advocating for her release and praying for her, her family, and her community. We are also advocating that her priest, Fr. Fadi Diab, be able to visit her and that she be able to communicate with her family.

We are deeply concerned about the manner in which Layan Nasir was taken, her ongoing detention, and the broader system that means many thousands of Palestinians are kept in administrative detention for months.

In April, The Episcopal Church Executive Council urged “the end of the continued detention of thousands of Palestinians without charge, as particularly highlighted by the case of Layan Nasir.”

We echo the Archbishop of Canterbury’s concern about her detention and the prayers of other bishops around the Anglican Communion who call for her release, and for us to acknowledge the plight of all detained Palestinians.

We continue to call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and the release of all hostages.

Please reach out to the Biden administration and urge them to do all they can to call for Layan Nasir’s release and the release of all unjustly detained Palestinians.

Episcopal News Service article on Layan Nasir
The Guardian on Layan Nasir’s Detention
The Church Times: Archbishop of Canterbury voices concerns