The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh) denounces that Monsignor Rolando Álvarez has been kidnapped for more than two months” by the Ortega-Murillo regime, after being removed from the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa on August 19. The organization demands his immediate release and denounces the silence of the Catholic Church.
«The personal integrity and the life of Monsignor is at risk, today he is 83 days kidnapped. We call on the high leaders of the church to unite and raise their voices in the face of so much repression. Freedom for Monsignor Álvarez and all political prisoners,” the human rights organization demands.
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The Cenidh reiterates that they “fear” for the personal integrity and life of the Catholic hierarch, at the same time they ask citizens to “fight together against repression. Let us support the many priests exiled and banished by the Ortega-Murillo regime. Let us raise our voices for the priests who have been arbitrarily detained, criminalized and prosecuted while being innocent », he expresses.
On August 4, the Ortega police prevented the prelate from leaving, who was in the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa, along with priests, two seminarians and a layman. On the 19th of the same month, riot police raided the compound, leaving the chief under house arrest and his companions imprisoned them in the Judicial Assistance Directorate (DAJ), known as “El Nuevo Chipote”, in Managua, who have been prosecuted and held hearings behind closed doors.
The Ortega regime, through the Police, pointed out that Álvarez’s arbitrary detention was to “recover normality for the citizens and families of Matagalpa.”
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Monsignor Álvarez is one of the 11 priests detained by the justice system of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, who in 2022 launched himself against the Catholic Church, preventing even freedom of worship.
Given the violation of the human rights of Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, the European Parliament approved on September 15 a resolution with 538 votes in favor, 16 against and 28 abstentions, urging the dictator Ortega to free the prelate and the priests detained during the attacks on the Church.
