SIX WOMEN DETAINED AND IMPRISONED AMID CRACKDOWN ON CHRISTIANS IN NICARAGUA

The suppression of religious freedom in Nicaragua has become increasingly concerning with the detention and imprisonment of six women over the past year. These incidents, involving five Catholics and one Protestant, demonstrate a pattern of religious persecution under President Daniel Ortega's regime.

Ortega, who secured his fifth term in a controversial election in 2021, along with his Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) government, has been repeatedly condemned for targeting religious groups, political opposition, journalists, and activists who oppose human rights abuses. The regime frequently uses vague national security laws and false charges to silence those who dare to dissent.

One of the victims, María Asunción Salgado, a Catholic, was arrested on October 7, 2023, while attending mass at the Nuestra Señora de Asuncion Parish in the Diocese of Estelí. International Christian Concern, a U.S.-based organization, reported that Salgado was detained along with two others for "religious beliefs, activities, and associations."

A similar case occurred with Evelyn Guillén, who was detained on August 5, 2023, for "religious activities and expressions" after she displayed a poster calling for the release of Bishop Rolando Álvarez, a vocal critic of the Ortega regime. Álvarez, who was previously detained and later exiled to the Vatican, is known for his strong stance that freedom is a divine right. Guillén, who remains in custody, has been denied access to medical care during her detention.

On August 19, 2023, Adela Tercero and Gabriela Morales were arrested on charges of spreading false information and "undermining national security." Although these charges were eventually dropped, both were still sentenced on drug trafficking charges after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana. Their ties to Jesuit educational institutions, known for their active role in anti-regime protests, made them targets of persecution.

Maricarmen Espinosa Segura was arrested in December 2023 on charges of money laundering, an accusation often used by the Ortega regime to imprison political opponents. In March 2024, Espinosa was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $80 million for her involvement with Puerta de la Montaña Ministry, a U.S.-based Christian organization known for organizing large evangelical events. The Nicaraguan government views their activities as a threat to state authority.

Espinosa’s colleague, Marisela de Fátima Mejía Ruiz, received a similar 15-year prison sentence and an $80 million fine for the same charge.

This crackdown is not only targeting individuals but also extends to religious institutions. The Nicaraguan government has canceled the registration of more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations, including 695 religious institutions from various Catholic, Evangelical, and Pentecostal denominations. Although the official reason cited is non-compliance with financial reporting requirements, many view this as a deliberate move to curtail religious freedom in the country.

Legal experts and activists in Nicaragua have condemned these harsh measures. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has documented increasing threats and surveillance of religious activities in Nicaragua. The Ortega government continues to face criticism for its repressive approach to all forms of opposition, including arbitrary detentions and severe restrictions on human rights.