NGOs warn about persecution of religious people in Nicaragua

Civil society organizations reported to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about increasing repression of religious freedom in Nicaragua, accusing the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo of targeting religious leaders. Marylaura Acuña from Cejil highlighted arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances of religious figures, alongside the revocation of legal status for religious entities. The discussion took place during the 197th session of the CIDH in Panama, where various organizations condemned the restrictions on religious freedom amid a climate of absolute power concentration. Acuña noted that the government employs unpredictability in allowing certain religious celebrations while suppressing others, creating fear among the population. Reports indicate that over 1,341 religious organizations were shut down in 2026, with exiled priest Rafael Aragón criticizing the government's facade of religious tolerance as a response to international pressure.