UN condemns new human rights violations in Nicaragua

In a new report, the UN Human Rights Office warns of "undue restrictions" on religious freedoms by Ortega's government, arbitrary detention, intimidation, ill-treatment in prisons and attacks on indigenous peoples.

L'Osservatore Romano

The report highlights how conditions in the Central American country have worsened compared to last year, and stresses that there are still "undue restrictions" on religious freedoms. The UN also highlights an increase in arbitrary detentions, intimidation of critics of the government, ill-treatment in prisons and attacks on indigenous communities.

The report points to the "intensified" persecution of opponents of the government or those perceived as "opposition voices". The report states that the authorities are targeting not only individuals who express dissenting views, but also any person or organisation that operates independently or is not under the direct control of the government. This crackdown has affected human rights defenders, independent media, NGOs and all "entities that advocate social or political change without government oversight".

According to the UN, at least 27 priests and seminarians were arbitrarily detained between October 2023 and January 2024. In addition, 31 clerics have been expelled from the country and detained for various lengths of time. Managua has also revoked the legal status of many religious organisations, part of a wider campaign against NGOs.

The UN Office in Geneva has expressed new concerns about the recently approved reform of the Nicaraguan penal code. The legislation, pushed through by President Daniel Ortega, allows the Nicaraguan government to prosecute individuals or organisations, including foreigners, for crimes committed outside the country against the state, its institutions or public administration - which includes cybercrime. The UN, which released its report just before the reform was passed, warned that such broad laws could be used to further coercion and intimidation.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on the government to "urgently change course".

vaticannews.va / gnews.cz-roz_07