The Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLIPP) demanded on Tuesday to the Prosecutor’s Office on the “aggressions, threats and harassment” against members of that NGO on Sunday, when a group of people identified as “affections to Chavism” tried to prevent a religious activity in favor of The detainees for political reasons.
Through a statement in its social network X, the organization indicated that the attack occurred in the San Antonio Chapel, in the west of the capital, during a day of prayer convened on the occasion of the next Canonization of José Gregorio Hernández and the religious Carmen Rendiles.
“The facts described have been recorded and widely disseminated in social networks and digital media, in videos where the faces, threats and actions of those who tried to prevent Mass are clearly observed, as well as the presence of members of paramilitary groups, called ‘collective’, historically linked to acts of repression and political violence,” denounced the NGO.
He added that the aggressors threatened to call “an alleged mayor” to suspend the Mass, which, “said,” evidences coordination with power figures to support acts of intimidation against victims and believers. “
“The recordings constitute direct evidence that legally force the Public Ministry to open an investigation,” said the organization, which also demanded an immediate criminal investigation to identify and sanction the material and intellectual responsible for the facts.
In turn, he requested urgent protection measures for mothers, relatives and human rights defenders who participate in activities of faith and demand for justice “in risk contexts.”
“They assaulted us verbally and physically, profirmed threats of arbitrary imprisonment and claimed to have an alleged municipal authority to prevent the ceremony,” said the NGO.
Infiltrated officials interrupt mass to intimidate parishioners
During the Mass, “alleged parishioners of the community, actually infiltrated intelligence officials,” they entered the temple to record and photograph the attendees, extending the environment of intimidation in the sacred place.
According to the Committee, this act violated “The House of God, where an act of faith, hope and prayer was held.”
The prayer day was part of a national activity convened by the organization in states of the country to ask for the liberation of political prisoners, whose number, according to the Criminal Forum, amounts to 838 people. However, the government denies that there are arrests for political reasons.
