The Nicaraguan activist and human rights defender Bianca Jagger sponsored Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, nine priests and two seminarians who were taken as political prisoners by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Jagger’s action occurs within the framework of the “Breaking chains, sponsor a political prisoner” campaign, promoted by the Casla Institute.
Of the dozen religious imprisoned by Ortega, some have been accused of common crimes and others for “conspiracy to undermine national integrity and propagation of false news.” But the only one who has not been charged in court is Bishop Álvarez, whom he keeps confined in a house belonging to his family in Managua.
“Today I join the campaign #Releasechains #ApadrinaAUnPresoPoliticoDelMundo I raise my voice for Bishop Rolando Álvarez and for the 9 Priests and 2 seminarians imprisoned in Nicaragua by the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship, who declared war on the Catholic Church,” Bianca wrote. Jagger in your account Twitter.
Related news: They arrest Manuel Obando, a trusted journalist of Monsignor Álvarez
The first priest arrested was Father Manuel Salvador García, parish priest of the Jesús de Nazareno church, in the municipality of Nandaime in the Diocese of Granada. The religious was apprehended on June 1, 2021. García was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for the alleged crimes of physical and psychological injuries to the detriment of Martha Candelaria Rivas, who refused to denounce the religious and was accused by the alleged crime of “false testimony”.
The second imprisoned religious is Monsignor Leonardo Urbina Rodríguez, parish priest of the Church of Perpetual Help in Boaco, who was arrested on July 13 in his city. The regime sentenced him to 30 years in prison for the alleged crime of raping a minor under 14 years of age and minor psychological injuries to the detriment of the 12-year-old victim of initials MJVS.
Father Óscar Benavidez, parish priest of the Iglesia Espíritu Santo, of Mulukukú in the Diocese of Suina, was arrested on Sunday afternoon, August 14, and became the third Catholic priest in prison. He was apprehended after leaving the Concepción de María chapel, where he officiated his homily based on the persecution and harassment of the prophets. He was taken to the cells of the Directorate of Judicial Assistance (DAJ), known as “El Chipote” where he has remained since that date.
In the early hours of August 19, three priests, two seminarians and a layman were taken from the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa together with Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa. The religious had spent 15 days surrounded by the Police without being able to leave the site.
After several weeks of remaining in a legal limbo, the dictatorship decided to accuse them of alleged crimes of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and propagation of false news to the detriment of the State and Nicaraguan society.
Father Enrique Martínez Gamboa, parish priest of the Santa Martha Church, of the Archdiocese of Managua, was kidnapped on the afternoon of October 13, days later he was charged with conspiracy to undermine national integrity and propagation of false news. With this arrest there are already nine priests, two seminarians and a layman in prison.
