On 12 September 2011, about 70 evangelical Christians from the village of San Rafael Tlanalapan, Puebla state, were told to leave immediately or be "crucified or lynched."

In a surprise development, 15 more of The Innocent of Acteal group of prisoners were released yesterday from prison in Mexico. The news was totally unexpected by the prisoners and their lawyers.

The Church in Chains Annual Conference held earlier this month focussed on Mexico.

Read a text report on the conference

View a YouTube interview with guest speaker, Rev. Al Schreuder, about the church in Chiapas.

About 140 Christians from various parts of Ireland gathered in Athlone in September for the annual Church in Chains conference.

Nine more of The Innocent of Acteal group of prisoners (including the six men pictured) have been released from prison in Mexico after another hearing in the Mexican Supreme Court.

The release and resettlement of The Innocent of Acteal group of prisoners has suffered more delays. In mid-August, twenty of the prisoners (including the seven men pictured) were released by order of the Mexican Supreme Court.

The Mexican Supreme Court has ordered the release of 55 of The Innocent of Acteal group of prisoners.

In a majority vote of 4-1, the Court determined there were too many questionable accusations, investigative errors, false charges, and anomalies in their cases, so they are being released after almost 12 years of imprisonment.

Hopes are rising that up to 40 of The Innocent of Acteal group of prisoners may soon be released from prison. The Mexican Supreme Court is due to vote on Monday (10 August) on an appeal in their case.

Families and friends of The Innocent of Acteal have marched to government offices in Tuxtla Gutierrez (the state capital of Chiapas) calling for justice for the imprisoned group of 76 prisoners, mainly evangelical Christians, who have been unjustly imprisoned in Mexico for the past ten years on false charges of participating in the Acteal “massacre”.