The Nunca Más Nicaragua Human Rights Collective considers that the guilty plea against three priests, a deacon, two seminarians and a layperson from the Diocese of Matagalpa symbolizes the persecution, criminalization and “war of the State of Nicaragua against religious freedom, in particularly against the Catholic Church.
The human rights organization points out that the sentences against the religious constitute “an unprecedented event in the history of the country and are, in addition to being unconstitutional, infamous and unjust.” The regime’s justice system found them guilty of the alleged crimes of “conspiracy to undermine national integrity and propagation of false news.”
“We denounce the criminalization of religious people through trials that lack total legality, that violate due process, both internal regulations and the criminal procedure code and the Political Constitution of Nicaragua, as well as international guarantees in the field of human rights” , highlighted the Collective in a statement.
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Those prosecuted by the Ortega regime are the first and second vicars of the Cathedral of San Pedro, in Matagalpa, Jose Luis Diaz Y Sadiel Eugarrios, respectively; as well as the priests Ramiro Tijerino—rector of the John Paul II University— and deacon Raul Vega Gonzalez.
Seminarians face the same situation Darvin Leiva Y Melkin Rye Sequeiralike the cameraman Sergio Cardenas, those who remained with Monsignor Álvarez in the episcopal seat from August 4 until his capture on the 19th of that same month.
After four days of trial hearings, the regime ended the process with political overtones against the religious, all from the circle of trust of the bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, who is also detained and will soon begin his trial for alleged crimes of “treason to the fatherland”.
In total, the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo paraded 12 witnesses, who were used to accuse the priests, seminarians and laymen who are now serving 171 days in prison since their violent arrest in the episcopal palace of Matagalpa.
